Williamsport and Lycoming County have a wonderful, vibrant musical heritage. It seems appropriate to celebrate it as part of this nation’s 250th birthday. And so it will be on Saturday, June 27, at the Brandon Park Bandshell in Williamsport.
Organizers of the event don’t see it as “a consolation prize” to compensate for the lack of fireworks in the City of Williamsport this year, which have been moved to the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville.
“This concert is a historic event for Lycoming County. More than 250 performers are coming together to celebrate 250 years of America, and I honestly don’t know that I’ll ever experience anything quite like it again in my lifetime,” Aliva Tagliaferri, a member of the America 250 Concert, told Webb Weekly.
She continued, “What I hope people understand is that this concert was never intended to replace a fireworks show or serve as a consolation prize. It is a celebration in its own right, one that has been months in the making. Hundreds of performers and musicians, along with a dedicated team of creative directors, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners, have worked together to create something truly special for our community.
“I hope people come ready to celebrate, embrace the patriotic spirit of the day, and appreciate the extraordinary talent that will take the stage. This is a once-in-a-generation event, and I hope attendees leave with a sense of pride in both our country and our community.”
The Celebration Concert, directed and produced by Walt Straiton, is to mark America’s Semiquincentennial, the country’s 250th birthday. The free community event will bring together a variety of musical acts, including the Williamsport Summer Pops Orchestra, Repasz Band, the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra’s Billtown Brass, Uptown Music Collective, All County High School Band, combined Williamsport Civic Chorus, Williamsport Chamber Choir, County High School Choir, Fife and Drum Corps, and many more local musical acts.
In addition, the performance will include numbers from the Community Theatre League’s summer stock show, talent from St. John’s School of the Arts, a multi- service Color Guard, and a scene from “STOA” The Musical.
Joining the already popular Homemade Days in Brandon Park on June 27th, the celebratory concert will feature rotating musical acts throughout the day, beginning at 1 p.m., culminating in patriotic tunes at the Bandshell from 6- 8 p.m.
Veteran musician, conductor, and arranger Walt Straiton is the Executive Producer and Musical Director of this monumental musical event, and he said, “America’s 250th birthday provides a unique opportunity to celebrate both our nation and Lycoming County by bringing together a wide variety of longstanding musical organizations from across our region. By sharing their collective gifts, these organizations help commemorate the rich and diverse musical heritage that has helped shape and define America throughout its history.”
He continued, “Two goals inspired the vision. First, to bring the entire community together through a musical celebration that showcases the breadth and depth of talent in our region, from individual performers such as Dylan Rockoff, Nicole Miele, and Mike Cashera to outstanding organizations including Billtown Brass, the Williamsport Chamber Choir, Williamsport Civic Chorus, West Branch Chorale, Uptown Music Collective, Saint John’s School of the Arts, and many others. Second, to bring renewed energy and attention back to Brandon Park, the site of memorable community concerts in the 1980s featuring artists such as Chuck Mangione, The Spinners, and Captain & Tennille, and once again make it a gathering place for shared experiences and great music.”
Straiton concluded by saying, “This concert showcases the incredible talent that contributes to the musical life of our region. It highlights the breadth and depth of the artists and organizations that help make our community such a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.”
Ron Frick, past executive director of United Way of North Central PA, said, “A show like this requires a lot of professional staging, sound, lighting, infrastructure, and most importantly, safety to welcome thousands of people. That requires investment.”
The Celebration Concert is being funded through a mixture of sponsorships and donations. The concert committee launched a special fundraising campaign called the “Semiquincentennial Challenge: 250 Years. 250 Donors. 250 Dollars.”
Event Schedule:
• 1 p.m. – Wild Honey
• 2 p.m. – Repasz Band
• 3 p.m. – Uptown Music Collective
• 4 p.m. – Billtown Brass
• 5 p.m. – Uptown Music Collective
• 6 p.m. – America250PA Lycoming County Celebration Concert
Parking Information:
Free parking for the evening concert will be available courtesy of Lycoming College. Attendees are encouraged to park in either the Lynn Science Center Lot or the Mulberry Street Lot on the Lycoming College campus. Additional parking will also be available on surrounding streets and in public parking areas near Brandon Park.
A courtesy shuttle service between the Lycoming College parking lots and Brandon Park will be provided by River Valley Transit Authority (RVTA). Shuttle service will operate from 5 p.m. until approximately 9 p.m. Guests may board at RVTA stops along Mulberry Street.
The committee extends its appreciation to Lycoming College and River Valley Transit Authority for helping make this community celebration accessible and welcoming for attendees from throughout the region.
The America250PA Celebration Concert planning committee consists of Lycoming County Commissioners, Mayor Derek Slaughter; Jason Fink, Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce; Walt Straiton, Executive Producer/Musical Director; Michelle McKeowan, Associate Producer; Ron Frick, Community Volunteer /Fundraising Chair; Liz Vollman, Office of Senator Gene Yaw; Carrie Pauling, Office of Representative Jamie Flick; and Office of Representative Joe Hamm.
