Social Events An exciting series of social events has been planned to allow attendees ample opportunity to interact informally while enjoying the sights and richness of Boston. Of the four social events shown below, The Welcome Reception and the Evening Reception at the Museum of Fine Arts are included in the registration fee, while the Transducers '03 Evening at the Boston Pops Concert and the Conference Banquet are optional and may be purchased separately. Welcome Reception Sunday Evening, June 8, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Conference registration and an informal welcome reception will be held at the Marriott Copley Place. Evening Reception at the Museum of Fine Arts Monday Evening, June 9, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. A reception will be held at the Museum of Fine Arts on Monday evening. The Museum is one of the world's great international art museums with treasures from all of the world's major civilizations. The Museum has the largest collection of Monets outside of Paris as well as renowned collections of European and American paintings, Egyptian, Asian and Classical art, sculpture and drawings. This event is included in the registration fee. Additional tickets can be purchased for guests when you register. Cost of additional tickets are $75 each. Transducers '03 Night at the BOSTON POPS CONCERT at SYMPHONY HALL Tuesday evening, June 10, 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. On Saturday, July 11, 1885, a large and fashionable crowd showed up at the Boston Music Hall for the first ever Promenade Concert. The Boston Symphony had promised them that the "programme for these concerts will be made up largely of light music of the best class." It was the start of one of America's most-loved musical institutions, the Boston Pops. Symphony Hall opened on October 15, 1900. It was the first concert hall designed with acoustical principles in mind and is regarded as one of the two or three finest halls in the world. With the exception of the wooden floors, the Hall is built of brick, steel, and plaster, with only a moderate amount of decoration. It seats 2,625 people during the BSO season and 2,371 during the Pops season. Springtime brings delightful Pops performances to Symphony Hall, which is transformed into a relaxed, cabaret-style setting. The Pops dazzles millions more each summer with outdoor concerts on the Charles River Esplanade and a special live television broadcast on July 4. The Boston Pops also tours various U.S. cities - from the West Coast to the Heartland and the South - making musical memories for countless American audiences! The Boston Pops is composed of distinguished musicians, many of whom are also members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The twentieth Conductor of the Pops and only the third Conductor since the famous Arthur Fiedler, Keith Lockhart was appointed in February 1995. He was 35 years old - the same age Arthur Fiedler had been at the time of his appointment. As the Conductor of the Pops, Lockhart has conducted more than 300 concerts and made 33 television shows, including 20 new programs for PBS's "Evening at Pops" and the annual "Pops Goes The Fourth!" shown nationally on A&E. At this time, tickets must be purchased directly from the Boston Pops Website. Conference Banquet Wednesday Evening, June 11, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The Conference Banquet is scheduled for Wednesday evening in the Ballroom of the Marriott Copley Place. The banquet will feature entertainment from a local Irish dance company. This remarkable Dance Troupe, based in Boston, is recognized as one of the premier Irish Dance Companies in North America. Their flawless and fast-paced exhibitions of contemporary and traditional Irish dance will leave you mesmerized. The Smith-Houlihan Irish Dance Company is the grand prize winner of the 1997 Riverdance Aspiring Artists Award, over 30 All World solo and team dance awards, and they are the proud recipients of the 1995 All World championship title won in Galway, Ireland. In addition to the awards bestowed upon the Company at the British Nationals, Australian Nationals, and the All Scotland and All Ireland Championships, this eight-time North American championship group has trained dancers chosen to perform with the touring companies of Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, and the Trinity Irish Dance Troupe. Tickets for the dinner should be purchased when you register for the conference. Banquet Ticket - $90