"STEP" Into the Pops

Project STEP, or String Training and Education Program, offers intensive musical training to African-American and Latino students. The goal is to improve diversity in orchestras.

Now, after three years at the helm of STEP, the program's much-loved artistic director is leaving Boston for his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, William Thomas has also been a member of the music faculty at Phillips Academy in Andover since 1974, and served as Chair of its Music Department for 15 years.

As a testament to Thomas' leadership at STEP is something he first arranged two years ago: A current student and an alumna of the program performed solos at last night's Boston POPS concert.

This morning, you can hear the rehearsal and the voices of the performers as they talk about what William Thomas has meant to them.

To find out more about Project Step, and to see a video including William Thomas, click on the link below. WBUR's Sarah Bush produced this audio postcard.