arthur fiedler. keith lockhart: there have been 20 conductors, but only three since 1930. charlie: fiedler. who else? keith lockhart: john williams. charlie: the great john williams. keith lockhart: and me. charlie: why music for you? keith lockhart: i grew up with the kind of parents who wanted to make sure i had the opportunities they had been denied. it was not an option that i would at least not have to explore these things. for some reason, it took. by the time i left high school i was so involved in music it was pretty much everything i knew. i did not have any role models. i was not going into the family business. i thought i was going to be a lawyer. it turned out i could not do that. and i ended up in something i have been blessed to make a living in. charlie: and bringing you great joy. keith lockhart: what an amazing combination. charlie: you had to have talent to be a good conductor. keith lockhart: every conductor starts life as a musician of some sort. instrumentalist, vocalist, i was a pianist. always enjoyed the process of assembly, putting things together.

it dates back to the mid 70's when arthur fiedler was talking to david and david asks what's that piece that ends with the cannons and the church bells going off. he said i think that should be a july 4th thing. for better or worse people who don't have a sense of heumple go that's a russian piece about victory over the french. >> rose: is there other countries that have something like boston pops. >> elements of. and boston pops like so many things in western based on european models. the concerts and beer gardens of germany and the proms in london. what we do throughout the year is unique. >> rose: you have said part of your job is to protect the tradition of live music. >> i think these days pretty much every performing artist, part of their job is to protect not just protect the tradition but to sell the concept. we live in an age where so many people get their entertainment and the cultural information increasingly insular pods. the arts about live performance. they're about engaging community coming together with other people. experience life to be made live. to be part of the per

fiedler had. it was a terrell strip. -- tear off strip. we have much more discerning consumers these days. they want to know what they are getting for their money before they make a substantial investment. charlie: do you design for the boston pops the entire program? keith lockhart: in generally, it is my responsibility for the programming. i have people that work with me to make the programs. the hyannis concert has gone on for years. it was founded by harry ellis dixon. interesting connections in massachusetts. so we work with them to determine something they think will play well for the audience. we had 15,000 people come together in this wonderful old-fashioned american scene with picnic blankets to hear some great music. charlie: you also conducted the bbc concert orchestra. keith lockhart: that is one of five orchestras that are employed by the bbc in the united kingdom. two in london. this is one of london. the orchestra as many different things. i just finished a tour of the u.s. with the