Orchestras in Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Tennessee are among those recently announcing concerts celebrating the July 4 holiday. Alabama’s Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra will perform a pops concert at the city’s annual Celebration on the River at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on July 4, featuring Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as well as Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and Lynyrd Skynrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” both arranged for this performance. On July 5, a “Red White & Blues 2” fundraising concert for the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra will feature the Western Colorado Jazz Orchestra performing at Grande River Vineyards. The Rockford Symphony Orchestra in Illinois will perform a program of patriotic music on July 3 at Rock Valley College, followed by fireworks. The Des Moines Symphony and Music Director Joseph Giunta will perform the orchestra’s annual free “Yankee Doodle Pops!” concert on July 3 at the Iowa State Capitol Grounds. The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra in Massachusetts—in partnership with the Emilson YMCA—will kick off its “Summer Nights with Phil” series on July 2 at Laura’s Center for the Arts with a patriotic-themed program featuring a brass quintet from the orchestra as well as a performance by “Y Young Singers.” On July 4, Nevada’s Reno Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by country singer Billy Ray Cyrus for a “Red, White and Tahoe Blue” concert at Village on the Green in Incline Village, Nevada. The program will include Chesapeake Summer of 1814, commissioned by Music Director Laura Jackson and debuted last year to commemorate the bicentennial of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” New Jersey’s Bay-Atlantic Symphony and Music Director Jed Gaylin will perform a free July 4th concert at Avalon Community Hall, featuring Copland’s Outdoor Overture and Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo; Elmer Bernstein’s theme from the movie The Magnificent Seven; Sousa’s Washington Post March; and the 1812 Overture. The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania will present five free “Celebration of the American Veteran” concerts in outdoor venues in the Harrisburg area between July 3 and July 7. Pennsylvania’s Reading Symphony Orchestra will perform a free community concert at FirstEnergy Stadium on July 4, led by Music Director Andrew Constantine and featuring Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Rossini’s “William Tell” Overture, and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, followed by a fireworks display. The Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra will perform a free concert on July 4 at Indian Point Park, led by Resident Conductor Francisco Noya and featuring music by Shostakovich, Wagner, Johann Strauss, Beethoven, Grieg, Danny Elfman, and Sousa. The Nashville Symphony will partner with Fort Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division Band for an all-American program on July 2 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center; military personnel and their families will receive a 20 percent ticket discount.
Posted July 1, 2014
