Suggested Donation: $10
Celebrate Independence Day with this annual display of vocal fireworks set off by a program of inspiring patriotic songs and marches. The patriotic fervor lives on through Choral Artists of Sarasota!

Program

Introduction and Welcome by Artistic Director Dr. Joseph Holt

Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key, arr. René Clausen

Independence
Jerry Bilik
Cedric Hameed, narrator
Sarasota Concert Band

The Mansions of the Lord
Nick Glennie-Smith and Randall Wallace

Gettysburg Address
Mark Hayes

If I Can Help Somebody
Alma Bazel Androzzo

Ride the Chariot
Negro Spiritual, arr. William H. Smith

We Won’t Give Up
Jay Rouse

Battle Hymn of the Republic
Peter J. Wilhousky

America, the Beautiful
Samuel Augustus Ward and Julia Ward Howe, Arr. Carmen Dragon

Anthem from Chess
Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus

Somewhere from West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein

March of the Women
Ethel Smyth

Armed Forces Salute
arr. Dr. Joseph Holt

God Bless America
Irving Berlin

Observer Media Group Review

“These annual concerts presented by the Choral Artists can’t be thought of or treated only as concerts because they are events. Events that have, or should have, a special meaning to everyone present.

That afternoon, for a brief two hours, this group of some 1,200 performers and the audience seemed to dismiss all feelings of partisanship, military might, bluster, innuendo and storm clouds to relish the feeling that “we are all Americans, and we love our country.” Music can do that to people, and that’s why we need it now more than ever.” ~ Edward Alley, July 9, 2019