Steve Hackman Tickets

and Pop Music Fusion

Over the past decade, there has been a surge in the popularity of classical music amongst millennial and Gen Z listeners. While the recent influx of young fans into the genre is undoubtedly good news for classical music's future, it poses the challenge of making the genre more accessible and engaging to new audiences. Steve Hackman, a conductor and composer, has been able to address this challenge through his innovative classical and pop music fusions.

Hackman is perhaps best known for his "MASH-UPS," which blend classical masterpieces with contemporary pop hits to create something entirely different. Hackman began experimenting with these complex mash-ups during his studies at the Eastman School of Music. He found himself struggling to choose between pursuing a career in classical or pop music. In an interview with NPR, Hackman said he felt torn by the idea that "these two worlds were mutually exclusive" and that he had to pick one over the other.

However, Hackman refused to choose, and instead, he began creating unique orchestral arrangements of pop songs and intricate mash-ups that fused the genres. One of his first arrangements was a blend of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Coldplay's song "The Scientist." The result was a captivating performance that bridged the gap between the two disparate styles of music.

Hackman's mash-ups have continued to impress audiences over the years, with unique interpretations of songs like Kanye West's "All of the Lights" and Radiohead's "Paranoid Android." His music brings together both well-known and lesser-known classical compositions alongside hit pop songs in a seamless, imaginative way that keeps listeners on their feet.

Steve Hackman recognizes that classical music can be intimidating for some, but he believes that "when we see the common humanity through musical universes, it becomes that much easier to close our eyes and connect with that heritage in a meaningful and profound way." Through his fusion of classical and pop music, he is breaking down barriers between genres and creating something new, vibrant, and accessible for all listeners.

Hackman's innovative approach has garnered him a considerable following, with sold-out performances across the United States. He has also collaborated with several highly-respected orchestras and artists, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony, and Brandi Carlile.

With his mash-ups, Steve Hackman is making it clear that classical music doesn't have to be stodgy or out of touch with modern popular culture. Instead, he is using these mash-ups to create a new sound that unites fans of all ages and backgrounds in an appreciation of both classical and contemporary styles of music.