Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra Presents Free Memorial Day Concert and Fireworks in Barnet Park

Music Director Sarah Ioannides and the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a Free Memorial Day Pops concert on May 25 at the Zimmerli Amphitheater at Barnet Park starting at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will feature songs of patriotism, jazz and pops and will end with a spectacular fireworks show. Celebrated jazz singer Dr. Tish Oney will join the orchestra as guest soloist along with Emma-Brooke Alley, child soprano who performed with the SPO during the Holiday Classics and Messiahconcert in December. Studio 62’s host and producer Jamarcus Gaston will be the honored MC for the evening.

With this early summer concert, the SPO continues its mission of providing live, entertaining music for the community. Barnet Park with the Zimmerli Amphitheater is the perfect location to bring the greater Spartanburg community together under one musical tent and celebrate our diverse community. As well, Bank of America will host a booth for visitors to create a card for military service members. Part of their “Express Your Thanks” initiative, Bank of America makes a donation for each card. Executive Director Kathryn Boucher stated, “The SPO is delighted to return to the Zimmerli Amphitheater at Barnet Park for an exciting night of Pops and fireworks! We are so grateful to the City of Spartanburg for partnering with us on this event and we look forward to making this an annual concert in the future. Bring your picnic blankets, friends and family and be ready for a spectacular show!”

Spartanburg was recently chosen as one of five communities to participate in the Way to Wellville initiative, a national challenge to improve five specific outcomes over the next five years. “We are very excited to partner with Way to Wellville on our Memorial Day concert this year,” said Ioannides. “Music has the power to heal, to uplift us, to touch our hearts and change the way we feel. Since the way we feel affects what we do, music gives us opportunities for change. Music is literally a “Way to Wellville”. As we begin our journey over the next five years, we hope to show how the power of music can be life changing and help the mission of the Way to Wellville, as it supports Spartanburg into a healthier community. ”

In addition to honoring our military service members, the concert will close the Spartanburg Philharmonic’s 10th Anniversary season with Music Director Sarah Ioannides. The program contains a wide variety of favorite music such as, “Amigos para Siempre”, (“Friends for Life”), “America the Beautiful”, “Celebration of the Armed Forces Medley Salute”, the “1812 Overture” by Tchaikovsky, as well as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, a Medley of music and song from the film “Frozen”, and some lush Jazz songs such as, “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got that Swing!”, “Cry Me a River”, and “When I Fall in Love”.

The SPO gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors who have made this event possible: George Dean & Susu Johnson, The City of Spartanburg, Bank of America, JM Smith Corporation, BMW Manufacturing, South State Bank, Duke Energy, the Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park, the South Carolina Arts Commission, and The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg.

No outside food or beverages will be permitted into the park. While the concert is free, a suggested donation of $5.00 per person is accepted.

Dr. Tish Oney , Blujazz recording artist, arranger, pianist, composer and Artistic Director of several internationally-touring productions including ‘The Peggy Lee Project, completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies and Performance at The University of Southern California’s renowned Thornton School of Music. Oney is thrilled to be putting together two touring symphony pops programs with Grammy-winning arrangers Chris Walden and Bill Cunliffe and looks forward to presenting these programs at large venues with symphony orchestras throughout the country! Tish maintains a very active touring and recording career. A mainstay in the Los Angeles and New York jazz scenes, Tish has been lauded in the 2008 book “The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide” authored by jazz critic Scott Yanow.Read more….

Emma Brooke Alley will return to perform with the SPO after her debut last December in the Holiday concert, where she wowed the audience with favorite Disney and Holiday tunes. She began voice lessons at the age of 6 and is looking forward to turning 12 in June of 2015 and is now is studying under Dr. Valerie MacPhail at Converse College. Emma-Brooke has been invited to perform solos for small and large (50 – 4000+) groups alike at her school, churches, town festivals, senior groups, conventions, sporting events, a county-wide Christmas Music Festival, the Governor of the State of South Carolina and many other venues. She is also now in her 4th year of studying piano privately under the tutelage of Mrs. Paula Morgan from The Lawson Academy of the Arts (Converse College). Read more

Jamarcus Gaston grew up in the very small town of Great Falls, South Carolina in Chester County. He graduated Salutatorian from Great Falls High School in 2003 and headed to the mountainous upstate to attend Furman University on an academic and music scholarship. Outside of the music department Jamarcus wrote for Furman’s student publication, The Paladin, for four years and worked vigorously to revive the school’s television news program. Jamarcus recruited reporters, photographers, anchors, and producers for his campus news program “WFTV Reports.” Jamarcus also served as an anchor, reporter, producer, photographer and News Director. In addition to his reporting for Scene on 7 and Your Carolina, Jamarcus works for WSPA News Channel 7 as a Writer/ Producer in the Marketing Department, and a host of the show Xtreme Achievers on Your CW. Read more

For further information, please visit our website: www.spartanburgphilharmonic.org or call 864-948-9020.