Grand Rapids Symphony

Known throughout the country as "America’s Favorite Pops Conductor," Richard Hayman was named Principal Pops Conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony in 1985. He holds the same position with the Saint Louis Symphony, and has held similar posts with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where he was Principal Pops Conductor from 1960 to 1968. He served for 30 years as chief arranger and guest conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra during Arthur Fiedler’s tenure, and that orchestra continues to perform his award winning compositions and arrangements. Mr. Hayman has received numerous distinguished awards, including a Certificate of Merit from the Secretary of the Navy, the Edison Award for Creative Achievement in the Recorded Arts, and the National Television Festival and Forum Award. In 1960, he was honored with his own star in Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. His 45 original compositions have been performed and recorded by artists throughout the world. He lives in New York City and Florida and continues to tour extensively, performing throughout the United States and Canada.

Most recently, he orchestrated the music for the PBS series based on the writings of Mark Twain, of which one episode, "Life on the Mississippi," was recorded by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Slatkin.