Orchestra Indiana has announced details of a FREE concert to take place on the Fourth of July at Yorktown’s Civic Green. Conducted by Kermit Poling, the patriotic program celebrating the American Independence Day will feature music of John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, and John Williams, performances by vocal soloists Natalie Cordone and Keron Jackson, and will conclude with a fireworks display. The concert begins at 8pm and will last approximately two hours.
Orchestra Indiana Executive Director Scott Watkins said “We’re really pleased to present this free event to the community that supports our organization so generously. The concert will be a celebration of America, featuring music by American composers including Leroy Anderson, George Gershwin, John Williams, and John Philip Sousa, led by a great American conductor Kermit Poling, and showcase two amazing young American singers.”
This marks the second free Independence Day concert presented by Orchestra Indiana. The first in 2021 was attended by more than 5,000 people.
Yorktown Civic Green is located at 9400 IN-32 in Yorktown, Indiana.
The presenting sponsor for the concert is LifeStream Services.
ABOUT KERMIT POLING
Multi-talented American musician Kermit Poling served as concertmaster and Assistant Conductor of the Shreveport Symphony for more than three decades. His original compositions have been enthusiastically received by audiences across the globe and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.
https://www.kermitpoling.com/biography
ABOUT NATALIE CORDONE
Star of musical theater and concert halls, in 2017 Natalie Cordone was named Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal in Some Enchanted Evening. She has appeared with the professional orchestras of Ft. Wayne, Greensboro, and Orlando, and is co-founder of the online coaching studio The Connected Performer.
https://nataliecordone.com/about
ABOUT KERON JACKSON
Lauded by the Dallas Morning News as “a powerhouse voice who takes command of the stage,” bass Keron Jackson is a gifted singer, actor, and evangelist. His astonishing personal story has inspired millions across the globe.
http://keronjackson.com/about/
ABOUT ORCHESTRA INDIANA
Orchestra Indiana began in March 2022 when the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and Marion Philharmonic Orchestra merged into one organization. Both the MSO and MPO have rich histories in our region, and Orchestra Indiana is fortunate to continue their legacies.
The Muncie Symphony Orchestra began when Dr. Robert Hargreaves was hired by the Ball State Teachers College to lead the college’s music program in the 1940s. He thought Muncie needed an autonomous orchestra. Hargreaves led the first professional orchestra with two concerts in the spring of 1948. By January 1950, more than 50 musicians met and approved a constitution for the Muncie Civic and College Symphony Association. For more than 70 years, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra flourished thanks to a strong relationship with Ball State University, with BSU music faculty and talented music students making up a large portion of the orchestra.
The Marion Philharmonic was formed in 1969 under the direction of Benjamin G. Del Vecchio. The orchestra was comprised of students and local area musicians until it became a semi-professional ensemble within a five year period. Mr. Del Vecchio was an Indiana University doctoral student when he joined the music faculty at Taylor University. Little did he know founding an orchestra would become a major priority. With the assistance of Dr. Edward Hermanson of Taylor University and a group of committed Marion businessmen, the orchestra quickly became a passion of Del Vecchio and together they developed the MPO.
The musicians of Orchestra Indiana include musicians from both the former MSO and MPO. They are professors, students, and professional musicians who hail from east central Indiana, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Cincinnati. Many of our musicians also have “day jobs” as farmers, teachers, EMTs, and executive directors. All are passionate about bringing live orchestral music to you.