Star-Spangled Evening / Jon Kimura Parker / Britt Orchestra

The stars will be out on stage as well as in the evening sky for this exciting all-American closing night concert. The program opens with Morton Gould's salute to America commissioned during the Bicentennial to capture the essence of the American spirit in sound. A truly American musical voice, George Gershwin possessed a phenomenal gift for melody, a natural feeling for dramatic pacing and he seemed to know what audiences would like, remember, and want to hear again. His Concerto in F stands as one of the high points in the merging of European sensibilities with the freedom, rhythmic excitement, and bravado of jazz and American musical theater. Pianist Jon Kimura "Jackie" Parker plays music ranging from Beethoven to Billy Joel with heart-wrenching feeling. In addition to his prodigious talent, intelligence and deft touch, he is known for the charismatic personality and joy he brings to his performances. Jackie's exuberance and warmth are sure to make this an unforgettable performance of the Gershwin. This 46th Britt Classical season will close exultantly with Aaron Copland's Third Symphony. The final movement prominently features his Fanfare for the Common Man. Described by Leonard Bernstein as "an American monument, like the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial," this symphony is Copland's grandest work.