RSO takes center stage at ballpark for July 4 concert

The Reading Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Andrew Constantine celebrate the Fourth of July with a free Star-Spangled Spectacular concert of patriotic songs at FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Reading Fightin’ Phils, followed by a fireworks display. The concert starts at 8 p.m. with entrance to the stadium beginning at 6 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the concert and fireworks will be held on July 5.

Musical highlights of the concert include the 1812 Overture, “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and the “Armed Forces Medley,” with a special salute honoring veterans. Students from the Orchestra Zone program, a partnership between the Reading School District and the RSO that offers free instrumental music lessons, are featured in a pre-concert performance. Directly following the RSO concert and fireworks, acoustic gypsy jazz band Djangoholics Anonymous featuring Bill Nixon (violin), Josh Taylor (guitar), Michael Nikolidakis (guitar), David Turanski (bass) and Chris Heslop (saxophone), gives a performance on the Hardball Cider Stage, in the plaza area of FirstEnergy stadium.

Free tickets are avail- able in advance for the July 4 concert at the Reading Symphony Orchestra office located at 147 North Fifth Street, at the Reading Eagle office at 345 Penn Street, at Boscov’s in the Berkshire Mall and at the Reading Fightin’ Phils box office.

Upcoming per f ormances for the RSO in its recently announced 201617 season include A Grand Night of Music on Sept. 24 featuring the Reading Choral Society Women’s Chorus and female members of the Berks Youth Chorus; Great Choral Works with the Baltimore Choral Society and violist Peter Minkler on Oct. 29; a performance with Grammy-Award winning guitarist Jason Vieaux on Dec. 3; a Mozart Celebration on Jan. 14 with RSO principal f lutist Yevgeny Faniuk as soloist; An Evening of Beethoven on March 4 with pianist Fabio Bindini, violinist Sabrina Höpcker and cellist Andrew Shulman; and The World of Shakespeare on April 29, as well as Pops performances - A Tribute to Ray Charles and Friends on Dec. 31 with Ellis Hall, and Hot Latin Nights! with the Mambo Kings on Feb. 11.

For more information on the Reading Symphony Orchestra and upcoming events, visit www.readingsymphony.org.