Symphony offers an all-American night with pops concert

“American Inspiration” is the theme of this summer’s annual Symphony Pops concert performed by the Glacier Symphony at Rebecca Farm at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 28. 

John Zoltek, music director of the Glacier Symphony and Chorale, has selected a number of popular movie tunes with an entertaining sing-along that features a medley of patriotic tunes. 

Music will include Aaron Copland’s “Hoedown,” George Gershwin’s “Cuban Overture” and “Havana,” “Lord of the Dance” from “River Dance,” John Williams’ “The Cowboys,” Henry Mancini’s “Theme from the Pink Panther” and “Theme from the Wild West,” and Klaus Badelt’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.” 

Patriotic music by John Philip Sousa is also on the program, with “Liberty Bell March,” “Thunderer March” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” 

 A new addition this year will be an audience sing-along called “Sing Along America” by James Stephenson that features a medley of patriotic tunes — “Yankee Doodle,” “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again,” “God Bless America” and more. Leading the audience will be Glacier Chorale baritone Brad Seaman. 

The concert concludes at dusk with Tchaikovsky’s rousing “1812 Overture.”

The Pops Pavilion will open at 5:30 p.m. with a variety of activities. A beer and wine garden and a variety of food vendors offering everything from ice cream to gluten free entrees will be available. A preshow musical serenade will be provided by guitarists Simone Craft and Karl Ross Berdimurat from the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation, and the local Montana Midnight Guitar Trio, consisting of Paul Gonsorchik, David Murdock and Mike Streeter.

The Glacier Symphony and Chorale will be offering one-night only specials to the audience for discounted passes to the 2014 Festival Amadeus event in Whitefish and half-price passes for new subscribers to the 2014-2015 season. Raffle tickets for a trip to Paris for two will also be on sale and an early-bird drawing for tickets will be held.

Car passes can be purchased at the gate or in advance by calling the box office, 407-7000. 

Rebecca Farm is located in the heart of Flathead Valley at 1010 West Springcreek Road. Take U.S. 93 north from Kalispell, turn west onto Reserve continue through the roundabout and turn left on Springcreek Road. Follow signs to gate.  

 Concert-goers are urged to bring a carload of friends and family, as the entry fee is $40 per carload and includes free parking. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for the event; bring a picnic, lawn furniture and blankets, but no dogs or barbecue grills please. The event will be held rain or shine with large tents available in case of inclement weather.