Committee Member: Luke Frazier

Luke Frazier

DC - Conductor and Founder of The American Pops Orchestra (APO)

Luke Frazier is a young conductor who is setting the tempo in DC and beyond with his lively conducting skills, accompanied by his orchestra (that he founded), The American Pops Orchestra (APO). Spending his time focusing on preserving American Popular music with innovative performances, Frazier is trying to make “the concept of an orchestra more accessible to people from all walks of life in all regions of our country”. When Frazier isn’t keeping the beat, he is likely cooking vegetarian dishes, finding new eateries around DC, or spreading his passion for music with all who are willing to listen, “music is a right for anyone who wants to hear it,” explains Frazier.

Q&A:

Hometown?

Parkersburg, WV.

Place you call home now (neighborhood etc)?

Cathedral Heights.

Any notes on your education?

I attended public school all through K-12 and then West Virginia University for a BM in Piano Performance and Ohio University for an MM in Conducting.

Favorite sport to watch?

Ha!

Favorite sport to play?

Bigger HA!

Best vacation ever?

Hiking Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England and trying way too much Sticky Toffee pudding in my self created tour of Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Dream trip destination?

Tibet.

Favorite dinner?

Beautiful dinners at Plume in the Jefferson Hotel, I’m a Vegetarian and they always spoil me with beautiful creations.

Favorite dessert?

Pavlova.

Underrated food?

Chickpeas.

Dish you’re best at cooking?

Remakes of classic dishes but as vegetarian dishes with no meat or meat substitute. I LOVE to cook.

Best meal you’ve had at a restaurant?

Recent vegetarian tasting menu at The Innat Little Washington.

Road trip--three in the car with you. Living or dead.Who are they? Why?

Franklin Roosevelt-I’ve always been fascinated with his vision and tenacity to get our country through such a difficult time.Mary Oliver-the elegance of her writing is something that has always captivated me Julia Child-I love to cook and watching how she was so joyful about cooking while remaining completely convicted about what she was doing and how she did it.

Favorite TV show as a kid?

I was always an old soul and would come home from school and watch classic movies and classic TV shows.

Favorite movies?

The Hours, Fried Green Tomatoes, As Good As It Gets, All About Eve, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Beginners.

Favorite actress and or actor?

Meryl Streep, Christopher Plummer, Amy Poehler, Melissa McCarthy, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin.

Favorite bands?

Way too many to name.

Most impressive live performance you ever saw?

Cabaret performance of pianist/singer Barbara Carroll, at 90 she performed with a subtlety and nuance that completely drew me in at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club. She effortlessly switched from comedic songs to the most intricate harmonies in haunting ballads with such ease and grace.

Car you drive now?

Mercedes E300.

Car you’d like to drive?

Tesla.

Best car you’ve owned?

Mercedes E300.

Got a favorite watch?

1930’s Illinois Deco Wrist Watch.

Summer drink of choice?

Custom Vodka Soda with herbs and citrus or a Mint Julep.

Winter drink of choice?

Manhattan.

Bourbon or Scotch?

Bourbon all the way.

Vodka or gin?

Vodka.

Cologne?

I have about 15 and rotate, right now I’m loving Vetiver from Dyptique.

Go-to red on a wine list?

Pinot Noir or Chinon.

Go-to white?

Champagne!

Favorite beach?

The beaches in Maine, or at Rehoboth at my beach place.

On a Saturday, your favorite errand to run is?

Antiquing!

Otherwise, you’ll be busy doing what?

Working in my garden or around the house.

Best work advice you ever got?

Be prepared and wear your own shoes-from Chita Rivera.

Best thing about your career?

The variety and creativity.

What do you do now for work? Tell us something about your work and career path.

I’m a professional conductor. I have my own orchestra that I created, The American Pops Orchestra. With that group I focus on preserving American Popular music with innovative performances and making the concept of an orchestra more accessible to people from all walks of life in all regions of our country. I also conduct all over the country with a large amount of work in Palm Beach, FL and New York, NY.

Do you have any philanthropic interests/endeavors?

Educational- I lead APO on a tour of Appalachian elementary schools completely free of charge. I have scholarships for music students at West Virginia University, Ohio University and future music students(High School Seniors) through a non-profit in my hometown. In addition I’m also on the board of the New York Festival of Song and the Cultural Diplomacy Leadership Council at Meridian International Center.