Brandywine Valley Symphony To Mark Nation’s 250th Anniversary With Concert

The Brandywine Valley Orchestra will commemorate America's 250th anniversary this summer with a concert titled "Made in America" held on June 25 at Longwood Gardens.

According to a Chadds Ford Live report, the program will feature the world premiere of An American Dream, A Symphonic Salute to America 250. The commissioned medley traces U.S. history through patriotic songs such as "Yankee Doodle," "America the Beautiful," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "The Star-Spangled Banner," and "God Bless the U.S.A.," according to the symphony.

The program mixes iconic American works and arrangements, including Liberty Fanfare by John Williams, Aaron Copland's An Outdoor Overture, Florence Price's Andante Moderato, George Gershwin's An American in Paris, Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story selections, and the second movement of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 "From the New World."

“This is the music that captures the energy and soul of America,” said Dr. Timothy Blair, president of the Brandywine Valley Symphony, in a statement shared with Chadds Ford Live.

The concert is part of America250PA's statewide and Chester County efforts to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. A pre-concert Declaration of Independence reading by 12 community leaders will be held as part of the Dare to Declare initiative, which is expected to draw about 1,000 participants.

Ticket prices are $65 for adults and $20 for students and children. Tickets, which include daytime admission to Longwood Gardens, can be purchased on the symphony's website.

The Brandywine Valley Symphony is a nonprofit affiliate of America250PA and is the region's only professional symphony orchestra in Chester County.