Knoxville Symphony Orchestra bringing patriotic notes
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The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will welcome attendees for its Independence Day concert in July, but there will be another set of patriotic-themed concerts Sept. 17-18, as the official symphony season begins with the MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series kickoff, George Gershwin’s “American in Paris.” - Photos submitted
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On Saturday, July 4, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will welcome attendees for its 42nd annual Lawson Family Foundation Independence Day concert to wrap up Knoxville’s Festival on the 4th at World’s Fair Park. - Photos submitted
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Knoxville Symphony Orchestra guitarist James W. Taylor performs during the 41st annual Independence Day concert in Knoxville. Taylor and the KSO will perform again this year in that concert, which is one of three free events leading up to the symphony’s official season kickoff in September. - Photos submitted
Organizations across the area are finding unique ways to celebrate America 250, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is no exception.
Saturday, July 4, the symphony will welcome patrons for the 42nd annual Lawson Family Foundation Independence Day concert to wrap up Knoxville’s Festival on the Fourth at World’s Fair Park. The KSO’s free performance begins at 8 p.m. and will be followed by fireworks launching from the Henley Street Bridge at approximately 9:45 p.m.
“The city sponsors a whole bunch of activities that go on during the day, then this performance is a concluding event of that day-long schedule of activities,” said Matthew Seaman, KSO’s director of communications. “With the Fourth of July, we typically perform patriotic marches, John Phillips Sousa, a lot of crowd favorites. But with the 250, there will be special guests. We expect Knoxville mayor Indya Kincannon and the Knox County Mayor, Glenn Jacobs, and radio host Halloran Hilton Hill and Knoxville poet laureate Rhea Carmon, who will read poetry as part of the program, during the Battle Hymn of the Republic. So there’s a narration that’s part of that and poetry as well.”
Mandolin player Wyatt Ellis will be featured as the symphony pairs with his own talents while WBIR’s John Becker will serve as emcee for the event.
There are no tickets required, as anyone can bring a picnic blanket and food and drinks to sit and enjoy the concert on the lawn of World’s Fair Park.
“I think the KSO has been privileged and honored to be part of this tradition,” Seaman said. “The fact that it’s a special anniversary in our country’s history makes everyone — our performers, staff, leadership — that much more thankful to be part of our community and our country.”
While the Independence Day concert will be a special feature for the holiday, it
also is one part of a three-
part kickoff series as anticipation builds for the performance season’s kickoff in September.
Another free concert will take place Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens while the final preseason concert will take place the following Thursday, Sept. 10, at Market Square downtown.
Those will lead into another set of patriotic-themed concerts Sept. 17-18, as the official symphony season begins
with the MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series kickoff, George Gershwin’s “American in Paris.”
Unlike the other events to preview the season, this one will be ticketed with seats going on sale in August at knoxvillesymphony.com.
