Folks To Enjoy Free 'America 250' Concert In West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The West Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the West Hartford Women's Chorale will present a free community concert on Wednesday, July 1, celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary.

It will feature the world premiere of a new composition honoring members of the military and first responders.

"A Concert in Salute to America's 250th Anniversary" will begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at Duffy Elementary School, 95 Westminster Drive.

The performance is free and open to the public.

The concert's centerpiece will be the world premiere of Paean to Our Heroes, an original work for orchestra and chorale composed by West Hartford Symphony Orchestra Music Director Richard Chiarappa.

The composition honors members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as firefighters and other first responders.

"The culminating America 250 program featuring the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the West Hartford Women's Chorale reflects the power of music and the arts to transcend generations, connect communities, and tell the evolving story of America," West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said in a statement. "This performance honors the complexity, resilience, and promise of our country, while celebrating the shared humanity that continues to unite us across generations and experiences."

Under the direction of Artistic Director Susan Barone Chrzanowski, the West Hartford Women's Chorale will perform works highlighting American music by female and African American composers and arrangers.

The program includes Elaine Hagenberg's Measure Me, Sky!, Rollo Dilworth's United in Purpose, set to a text by Maya Angelou, and Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie, attributed to folk and blues musician Lead Belly.

The orchestra's program also features music by Aaron Copland, John Williams, and Connecticut composer Leroy Anderson, along with patriotic selections including America the Beautiful, an Armed Forces Salute, and John Philip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Soprano Kate Hardman will perform The Star-Spangled Banner to open the concert. Narrators Sheri Zaccardi and Ray Hardman will participate in the Armed Forces Salute and Chiarappa's musical setting of The Gettysburg Address. West Hartford Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Carin Wiesner Hoffman will be featured as violin soloist in Jay Ungar's Ashokan Farewell.

The concert is presented with support from the Town of West Hartford, the America 250 Concert Committee, and West Hartford Community Interactive.