Gerard Kelly established the Cork Pops Orchestra in 1990 for the occasion of the Tall Ships visit to Cork. Since then it has been a part of all major civic celebrations in the City and has become particularly associated with educational work. Not surprising – as most of the players are members of the staff of the Cork School of Music.

The orchestra has been presenting concerts for schools since 1994 - a development of Evelyn Grant’s "Children’s Music Hour’ running since 1984. Evelyn, the orchestra’s conductor, has developed educational projects for West Cork Music; the Dept. of Education’s "Breaking the Cycle" initiative; UCC’s Bridging the Gap programme; and C.I.T.’s Access programme. She is a founder of Cork Music Works,which provides music activities and performance opportunities for people with learning disabilities. She is currently doing PhD research on Social Inclusion in Music Education. She also broadcasts on LYRIC fm.

Annual Concert for Schools presented in

• City Hall, Cork
• University Concert Hall, Limerick
• Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork
• Connolly Hall, Cork
• "Bridging the Gap", U.C.C. Boole Theatre

Special events include:

• The Lord’s Mayor’s Gala Charity Concert – City Hall (annually since 1992)
• The Millenium Eve Concert, City Hall, Cork
• Tea-Dances for the Young at Heart (City Hall, Cork and County venues)
• The Tall Ships Race Celebrations - Cork Docks
• The Homecoming Festival - Cork Docks
• The Maritime Festival – Cork Docks
• "Evening Echo 30,000 Edition Prom Concert" from the Guinness Gig Rig in Emmett Place:
• Open-air Prom concerts for the Bantry Mussel Festival in Bantry;
• Performances at Mallow Garden Festival
• Mid-Summer Festival prom, Cork Opera House
• Concert to celebrate the Tour de France visit to Cork, Grand Parade, Cork.
• UCC Strauss Ball; Surgeon Noonan Strauss Ball