Experience the unforgettable music from your favorite television shows and films in an intimate, acoustically stunning setting as the Firebird Pops Orchestra brings Film Night back to Gloucester’s historic Hammond Castle Museum for an evening of iconic film and television scores performed live in concert.
Set inside the Museum’s majestic Great Hall, renowned for its near-perfect acoustics, this popular program features creative arrangements of beloved themes brought to life by the Firebird chamber orchestra under the baton of Founder and Conductor Brendan J. Kenney.
Enjoy the music of cinematic giants Harry Potter, The Avengers, Jurassic Park, The Wizard of Oz, Schindler’s List, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, and more, performed in one of the most atmospheric and acoustically remarkable venues in New England.
At the time of this event, the Museum will be closed to tours. If concert ticket holders wish to tour Hammond Castle Museum on the day of the ticketed performance, Self-Guided Tour tickets may be purchased in the Museum Shop at a 20% discount. prior to 2:30 pm. Proof of purchase of the Film Night performance will be required.
Member savings apply.
About Firebird
The Firebird Pops Orchestra is a non-profit regional ensemble made up of musicians from across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Our mission is to bring high-caliber, multimedia orchestral performances to local audiences—featuring the music of film, television, video games, Broadway, and more—while maintaining an inclusive and community-driven spirit.
The orchestra presents a dynamic season of performances from June through December each year, with concerts in Wakefield, Massachusetts, and at partner venues such as The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, the Museum of Science in Boston, and Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester through our FPO@Hammond series.
About the Music Director
Brendan J. Kenney is the founder and conductor of the Firebird Pops Orchestra, established virtually in 2020. Under his dynamic leadership, the ensemble has performed numerous innovative concerts across Greater Boston and the North Shore, quickly cementing its reputation as a leading arts organization in the region. Brendan is especially known for his engaging and charismatic stage presence, creating a concert experience where audiences feel intimately involved in the performance.
Brendan’s conducting journey evolved from his extensive experience as a theatre music director, a role he has excelled in for nearly 20 years. During this time, he has conducted over 100 productions in educational, amateur, and professional theatres, collaborating with many of the region’s finest musicians.
The Firebird Pops Orchestra was born during the pandemic, offering musicians a chance to help the arts “rise from the ashes” of the lockdown period. Brendan recognized a void in virtual performance opportunities and simultaneously saw a chance to fulfill his decade-long desire to fill the gap in accessible ensembles dedicated to performing pops repertoire. The Firebird Pops’ online performances quickly captivated audiences around the world, garnering both local and national media attention.
Since its inception and pivot to live programming, Brendan has led Firebird in sold-out performances across Massachusetts at iconic venues such as the Museum of Science in Boston, Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, and Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester where the orchestra maintains a popular concert series each season, including the beloved holiday program “Christmas at the Castle.”
In addition to his work with Firebird, Brendan is a respected clinician and adjudicator, offering workshops and evaluating music competitions for music students throughout the state. As a performer, he has appeared in backup choirs for renowned artists like Sarah Brightman on her Hymn and A Christmas Symphony tours, and Josh Groban on his Bridges tour. Brendan also frequently collaborates with Broadway in Worcester’s Education Division, accompanying masterclasses with prominent Broadway performers such as Laura Benanti, Kelli O’Hara, Jessie Mueller, and Santino Fontana.