Happy 250th Birthday, USA! Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a symphonic journey that captures the heart and soul of the nation. In its 32nd season, the Parker Symphony Orchestra welcomes you to a series of exhilarating concert experiences that showcase American music through the works of its greatest composers.
America the Beautiful
The first in this season’s PSO concert series features American composers whose works take us on a musical exploration through some of our nation’s greatest scenic wonders, from the rugged forests of the Appalachians to the awe-inspiring vastness of the Grand Canyon, and beyond.
When
Program
America the Beautiful – Ward/Reed
Cascadian Concerto (Woodwind Quintet/Orchestra) – Eric Ewazen
Lyric for Strings – George Walker
On the Trail from Grand Canyon Suite – Ferde Grofe
Knoxville, Summer of 1915 (Nadya Hill, Soprano) – Samuel Barber
Appalachian Spring – Aaron Copland
A Classic Parker Holiday
Featuring Parker Symphony Orchestra & Parker Chorale
The annual holiday tradition continues as the Parker Chorale and Parker Symphony Orchestra join together for a performance that includes traditional carols, familiar songs, and a few surprises in this cherished seasonal celebration!
When
Saturday, December 6, 2025 – 2:30 PM
Saturday, December 6, 2025 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 7, 2025 – 2:30 PM
Program
TBA
Awe-Inspiring American Women
Join the PSO as we celebrate early and contemporary female American composers and the integral role played by women in American symphonic history. Selections include compositions by Florence Price, Joan Tower, and other leading figures who have pushed boundaries and continue to shape the sound of American music, inspiring generations of composers.
When
Friday, February 20, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Program
Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman #1 (Brass) – Joan Tower
Entr’acte (Strings) – Carolyn Shaw
Tzigane (Woodwind Quintet) – Valerie Coleman
Romance (Katie Grosskopf, violin soloist) – Amy Beach
Symphony #1 – Florence Price
Composer Bios
Joan Tower (born 1938) Joan was a recipient of several Grammy® awards and one of the most successful female composers of all time. Her Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman was composed in response to Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man.
Carolyn Shaw (born 1982) Carolyn was the winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for music, and won Grammy® awards for her compositions, both vocal and instrumental.
Valerie Coleman (born 1970) The first living African American woman to have a work commissioned and performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Valerie was named one of the “Top 35 Women Composers” in the Washington Post in 2019.
Amy Beach (born 1867) Amy was the first female composer of large-scale art music. Premiering in 1897 by the Boston Symphony, her “Gaelic” symphony was the first to be composed and published by an American female composer.
Florence Price (born 1867) Florence was the first African American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer and to have a composition performed by a major orchestra. Her Symphony #1 was premiered by the Chicago Symphony in 1933.
American Cinema
The April concert will focus on famous American composers who composed music for film scores, along with other genres. The number of awards they have earned among them is huge, and they are famous not only in the US, but around the world. Tickets link to be published soon.
When
Friday, April 17, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Program
The Cowboys Overture – John Williams
Three Pieces from Schindler’s List (Luyan Gao, Violin) – John Williams
The Big Country – Jerome Moross
On the Town – Leonard Bernstein
American in Paris – George Gershwin
Mambo from West Side Story – Leonard Bernstein
Celebrating America
When
Friday, May 22, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Program
Star Spangled Banner – John Stafford Smith
Fanfare for the Common Man 2015 (Brass/Percussion) – Aaron Copland
Snow Falling in Autumn (Strings) – Chris Pilsner
Lincoln Portrait – Aaron Copland
Victory at Sea – Richard Rodgers
Hymn to the Fallen (with vocalists from the Parker Chorale) – John Williams
Variations on America – Charles Ives
Liberty Bell March – John Philip Sousa