Our Mission
The mission of the North Charleston POPS! is to inspire, engage, and connect with our diverse community through the shared joy of music and educational programs. From our artists to our board, from our school programs to our volunteers, we pledge to uphold our belief that live music is for everyone.
Our Vision
We have a vision to provide the musical experience of choice today and as our communities grow.
We bring people together in community to celebrate the shared joy of music. We provide opportunities for the economically underserved to engage in our programs.
We fulfill our mission through contemporary orchestra performances at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and an outdoor concert series at historic Riverfront Park. We provide music education opportunities and programs for elementary and middle Title One students through our PopsKids program. PopsKids provides after school music lessons, summer camps, performance opportunities, music educational programming, and youth outreach programs.
Diversity and Inclusion
The North Charleston POPS! welcomes all people, inclusive of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, and economic status.
Our Story
The North Charleston POPS! was co-founded by Tacy Edwards and the City of North Charleston in 2011. Ms. Edwards served as Executive Director for 10 years, leading the organization and leveraging her decades of experience in the arts to create and nurture this vibrant orchestra into becoming the heart of the North Charleston arts experience.
“It has been rewarding to work with the POPS! team in this welcoming city of North Charleston, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary! The vision of the various mayors of the City of North Charleston have made the arts central to the community in building the Coliseum and, later, the Performing Arts Center. We are proud to call the Performing Arts Center our home and are impressed with the dynamic economic, cultural and domestic growth of the city as it continues to attract new businesses and has become the heart of the Lowcountry with its shopping choices, hotel accommodations, International airport, Boeing facilities, business opportunities and innovative new educational and recreational programs for the children of the community. North Charleston is definitely a great place to live, work and play.” - Tacy Edwards, Founding Executive Director