Celebrate Independence Day and kick off SummerFest with an evening of patriotic favorites, uplifting American classics. With highlights from Wicked and Star Wars, to the iconic Stars and Stripes Forever and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, this concert is bursting with joy, pride, and community spirit.

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Patriotic Pops

The Music Center at Strathmore

The annual Star Spangled Spectacular at the beautiful Starlight Theatre salutes our great American composers! The RSO performs a variety of favorites, including the always-popular tribute to our community’s veterans. Featuring Broadway star John Rapson (Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, Ragtime) and local rising talent Robbie Strader (Rockford University, Ragtime at RVC Starlight). Join us for this patriotic celebration!

Star Spangled Spectacular

Rock Valley College

The sixty-voice Rice Chorale is comprised of voice and music majors and other talented singers from Rice University and the greater Houston community. 

9/11/01 In Memoriam

Alice Pratt Brown Hall

Join us for a magical evening under the stars with the "Symphony in the Cities: Irvine" featuring the Pacific Symphony, led by the esteemed Maestro Carl St.Clair. This enchanting free concert is set to take place at the new venue, Great Park Live, Irvine, on Sunday, August 18, 2024. The event promises a delightful mix of popular classics, pop tunes, and a patriotic sing-along that will captivate audiences of all ages.

The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with family-friendly activities, setting the stage for a memorable night. At 7:00 p.m., the Pacific Symphony concert begins, showcasing an impressive program that includes:

- JOHN STAFFORD SMITH: Star Spangled Banner
- GEORGE GERSHWIN: Overture to Strike up the Band
- JOHN WILLIAMS: March from Superman and Imperial March from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
- JOHN PHILIPP SOUSA: Hands Across the Sea March
- ALAN MENKEN: Selections from The Little Mermaid Suite and Beauty and the Beast
- PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
- VARIOUS: Armed Forces Salute
- SAMUEL WARD: America the Beautiful
- JOHN PHILIP SOUSA: The Stars and Stripes Forever

Featuring Carl St.Clair as conductor and the talented Rubi Lee on violin, this concert is a perfect way to end a lazy summer day. Pack a picnic, bring a lawn chair or blanket, and gather your family and friends for an evening of free music and outdoor summer fun. Children will have the unique opportunity to learn how to conduct with Maestro St.Clair and even help lead the orchestra during the concert.

Don't miss this spectacular event that celebrates community, music, and the joy of summer. Mark your calendars for August 18, 2024, at Great Park Live, Irvine, CA, and be part of a tradition that brings music and people together.

Symphony in the Cities: Irvine

Great Park Live

**Symphony in the Cities: Musco Center for the Arts Presents Pacific Symphony**

Join us for a magical evening under the stars with the Pacific Symphony at the Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University. This free concert, set for Sunday, August 4, 2024, promises to be the perfect way to wrap up a lazy summer day. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with family-friendly activities, setting the stage for a memorable night of music starting at 7:00 p.m.

**Event Details:**
- **Date:** Sunday, August 4, 2024
- **Location:** Aitken Arts Plaza, Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA
- **Concert Time:** 7:00 p.m. (Family activities start at 5:30 p.m.)
- **Admission:** Free (Space is limited, reservations required)

**About the Concert:**
Pack a picnic, grab a lawn chair or blanket, and gather the family for an evening filled with a mix of popular classics, pop tunes, and a patriotic sing-along. Highlights include the opportunity for kids to learn how to conduct with Maestro Carl St.Clair and even help lead the orchestra during the concert.

**Program Highlights:**
- **Conductor:** Carl St.Clair
- **Violin Soloist:** Rubi Lee
- **Featured Pieces:**
  - Star Spangled Banner by John Stafford Smith
  - Overture to Strike up the Band by George Gershwin
  - Selections from John Williams including March from Superman and Imperial March from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
  - Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid Suite and Orchestral Suite from Beauty and the Beast by Alan Menken
  - Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  - Armed Forces Salute, America the Beautiful by Samuel Ward, and The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa

This concert is a heartfelt thank you to the community, supported by Chapman University and its President, Daniele Struppa, along with the Musco Center for the Arts. We extend our sincere gratitude for their support in making this event possible.

**Reserve Your Spot:**
Due to limited space, reservations will be required. Stay tuned for more information on how to secure your spot for this unforgettable evening.

Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a summer evening filled with music, community, and joy. We look forward to seeing you there!

Symphony in the Cities: Musco Center for the Arts

Chapman University

Join us for a magical evening under the stars with the "Symphony in the Cities: Mission Viejo Pacific Symphony" event, set to take place on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the picturesque Oso Viejo Community Park on the Village Green and Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, located at 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA. This free concert promises to be the perfect way to end a lazy summer day, offering a potpourri of popular classics, pop tunes, and a sing-along of patriotic favorites.

The festivities begin at 4 p.m. with "Prelude in the Park," featuring family-friendly activities to engage attendees of all ages. Then, at 7 p.m., the Pacific Symphony, under the baton of esteemed conductor Carl St.Clair and featuring the talented violinist Rubi Lee, will take the stage to deliver an unforgettable performance. The program includes beloved pieces such as the "Star Spangled Banner" by John Stafford Smith, George Gershwin's "Overture to Strike up the Band," selections from John Williams including the "March from Superman" and the "Imperial March from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back," and classics by Alan Menken, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and John Philip Sousa, among others.

This concert is not only a celebration of music but also an opportunity for kids to learn how to conduct with Maestro St.Clair and even help lead the orchestra during the concert. It's a unique experience that combines education, entertainment, and community spirit.

Don't miss this opportunity to gather with family and friends for an evening of free music and outdoor summer fun. Pack your picnic, grab your lawn chair or blanket, and join us for a night to remember with the Symphony in the Cities: Mission Viejo Pacific Symphony.

Symphony in the Cities: Mission Viejo

Oso Viejo Community Park

Join us for a magical evening under the stars with the "Symphony in the Cities: Costa Mesa" featuring the Pacific Symphony, led by the esteemed Maestro Carl St.Clair. This free concert is set to take place at the picturesque Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, CA, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Time is yet to be announced, ensuring a perfect setting to end a lazy summer day.

Gather your family, pack a picnic, and bring along a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy an evening filled with music and outdoor summer fun. The concert promises a delightful mix of popular classics, pop tunes, and a patriotic sing-along that will engage audiences of all ages. Highlights include an opportunity for kids to learn how to conduct with Maestro St.Clair and even help lead the orchestra during the performance.

The program features an array of beloved pieces, including:
- JOHN STAFFORD SMITH: Star Spangled Banner
- GEORGE GERSHWIN: Overture to Strike up the Band
- JOHN WILLIAMS: March from Superman and Imperial March from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
- JOHN PHILIPP SOUSA: Hands Across the Sea March
- ALAN MENKEN: Selections from The Little Mermaid Suite and Beauty and the Beast
- PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
- VARIOUS: Armed Forces Salute
- SAMUEL WARD: America the Beautiful
- JOHN PHILIP SOUSA: The Stars and Stripes Forever

Featuring Carl St.Clair as conductor and the talented Rubi Lee on violin, this concert is not just a musical event but a community gathering that celebrates the spirit of America and the joy of music.

Don't miss this unforgettable evening of music and community spirit. Mark your calendars for July 30, 2024, and stay tuned for the announcement of the concert time. This event is proudly sponsored by the Pacific Symphony and promises to be a highlight of the summer season.

Symphony in the Cities: Costa Mesa

Fairview Park

Join us for the SMSO’s annual tribute to America and its steadfast strength with a mixture of patriotic favorites, film scores, and iconic American works. The 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky synchronized to an outstanding fireworks display ends this spectacular celebration! 

A Salute To America

Silver Beach County Park

Cascade Symphony’s 2025-26 season concludes with three centuries of music from Austria, Italy, Bohemia and America, including overtures by Antonin Dvorak (Vanda) and Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story), and Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Festivals. Northwestern Winds (Oboist Edward Benyas, Clarinetist Denise Lum, Hornist Jill Jaques and Bassoonist Steven Morgan), who have collectively performed with the Chicago, Seattle, Milwaukee and Oregon Symphonies, the Seattle, Santa Fe and Chicago Lyric Operas, the Pacific Northwest and Joffrey Ballets, and at the Spoleto, Carmel Bach and Bellingham Music Festivals, among others, appear as soloists in Mozart’s delightful Sinfonia Concertante for four winds and orchestra.

Samuel Ward

Events

Upcoming events

May 4, 2026

From Mozart to Bernstein · Cascade Symphony Orchestra

Past events

Jul 5, 2025

Patriotic Pops · Strathmore

Jul 3, 2025

Star Spangled Spectacular · Rockford Symphony Orchestra

About

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