Folsom Symphony celebrates America, over two days, Friday and Saturday for the May 17-18 concert, as the perfect occasion to honor mothers and the military at the same time.
This year, Mother’s Day is May 12 and Armed Forces Day is May 18. The Folsom Symphony’s ‘Made in America’ concert, featuring three violin solos, movie scores and patriotic favorites, makes an ideal gift.
President Truman established May 18 as Armed Forces Day in 1949 to thank the members of our military for their patriotic service to our country. Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May, became a recognized holiday in the U.S. in 1914.
The orchestra honors both occasions than an evening of all-American music – the “Made in America” concert, to celebrate the ingenuity of American composers, at Folsom’s Three Stages.
Guest violinist Dawn Harms, in an encore appearance, will play the first movement of Barber’s Violin Concerto a solo from “Schindler’s List” and the premiere of ‘Prayed in America,’ especially written for her and this concert by Bay Area composer Peter B. Allen.
The evening’s repertoire also features “Four Dance Episodes” from Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo”; John Williams’ “Schindler’s List” and “E.T.”; selections from “Wicked” and “Chicago”; and songs that made America great, including the “Armed Forces Salute.”
The Folsom High School Chamber Singers join the orchestra with vocal accompaniment to “Hymn to the Fallen” from “Saving Private Ryan.”
Peter B. Allen’s exciting new composition, “Prayed in America,” was composed for Ms. Harms and this concert.
Allen says he wrote this piece, “according to what feels American to me,” so it is fitting to premiere it for Mother’s Day and Armed Forces Day.
Tickets are available online, by calling 916-608-6888 or by visiting the ticket office at Folsom Lake College.
Performances of “Made in America” are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, at the Three Stages theater on the Folsom Lake College campus.
