Band leader chosen to conduct the Pops

Brad Smith, the Milford High School band director, has been chosen to be a guest conductor of the Boston Pops.

Smith will join Boston Pops’ Conductor Keith Lockhart on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.

Milford High student Jillian Dargie organized a voting drive for the “Be the Pops’ Top Music Teacher” contest, a project of the Boston Pops and WZID radio. Smith competed against other New Hampshire band directors and last month he and four other directors were named finalists.

With 17,000 votes on the WZID online poll – more than 50 percent of the total – Smith was the runaway winner.

“It’s quite an honor,” Superintendent of Schools Bob Suprenant told the school board Monday night.

As part of the promotion, the school’s music department will receive a $1,500 gift certificate to Daddy’s Junky Music.