Live Broadcast to be Heard throughout Northern New England, Online
PORTLAND, Maine – The July 4th Portland Foundation today announced that the Patriotic Pops concert featuring the Portland Symphony Orchestra at this year’s Stars and Stripes Spectacular on July 4 will be carried live on 94.9 WHOM. The live broadcast will allow listeners throughout northern New England as well as worldwide online – including spectators viewing the fireworks out on Casco Bay and from nearby towns – to tune into the concert live. The concert will begin at 7:40 PM. 94.9 WHOM Program Director and Afternoon Host Tim Moore will act as MC for the festivities.
“We expect more than 50,000 people to join us on the Eastern Promenade for the 2nd Annual Stars and Stripes Spectacular on July 4th,” said Jon Jennings, Maine Red Claws President and General Manager and one of the founding partners of the July 4th Foundation which privately funds the event. “In addition, there are tens of thousands more who will watch the fireworks from other areas of Portland, from boats on Casco Bay and from nearby towns. The live broadcast on 94.9 WHOM will enable those far and wide to enjoy the concert even if they can’t make it out to the Eastern Promenade to join us.”
The Portland Symphony Orchestra will be the featured performer of the Stars and Stripes Spectacular for the second consecutive year, performing a free Patriotic Pops concert that will begin at 7:40 PM and continue through the fireworks display. The PSO will be joined on the bill of the 2nd Annual Stars and Stripes Spectacular by Maine’s funniest comedian, Bob Marley, presented by Bangor Savings Bank, who will give a special all-ages performance at 6 PM. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at approx. 9:20 PM.
Under the direction of Music Director Robert Moody, the PSO’s program will this year feature soloist Paul Baswell. The tenor is a graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts where he performed with Piedmont Opera in La Boheme, La Traviata and The Light in the Piazza. Baswell has performed at the Jenny Wiley Theater in a production of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and recently finished working in Maine where he performed Damn Yankees! and the all Sondheim review Old Friends. He has been both directing and performing with FoodPlay Productions for the past year and a half. He is currently performing as Robert Baker in Wonderful Town at Quisisana.
Highlights of the program include selections from the movie Independence Day and a salute to George M. Cohan, as well as an Armed Forces salute and rousing marches by John Philip Sousa. The ever-popular 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky will kick off a spectacular fireworks display.
Portland Symphony Orchestra: Serving the city of Portland, the state of Maine, and northern New England, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the largest performing arts organization in Maine. The PSO is a musical hub for 82 of New England’s finest professional musicians and teachers. Established in 1923, 2010-11 marked Music Director Robert Moody’s third season, and the organization’s 86th anniversary season. For more information about the PSO visit www.portlandsymphony.org.
July 4th Portland Foundation: Following the elimination of Maine’s largest July 4th celebration from the Portland city budget in 2010, four area businesses stepped forward to save this treasured tradition: The Portland Press Herald, Quirk Chevrolet, Wright Express and the Maine Red Claws. The July 4th Portland Foundation was formed to privately fund the Stars and Stripes Spectacular, including the annual fireworks display and newly created festival. The July 4th Portland Foundation works in partnership with City of Portland in coordinating the event to insure that the fireworks and festival are conducted safely and for the full enjoyment of the tens of thousands of spectators expected to attend. For more information, visit www.july4thportland.org.
2011 EVENT SPONSORS: The Stars and Stripes Spectacular is made possible through the generous contributions of corporate sponsors and individuals. Supporters of the 2011 event include: Major Sponsor – Bath Savings Bank; Gold Sponsors – Time Warner Cable, Unum and Cross Insurance; Silver Sponsors – PowerPay, Woodard & Curran, Famous Dave’s BBQ, and Citadel Broadcasting; Contributing Sponsors – Proprietors of Union Wharf, MEMIC, Creative Office Pavilion, KeyBank and countless donations from area business and individuals. For information about the events scheduled for the day and ways to support the continuation of the city’s 4th of July celebration in years to come, visit www.july4thportland.org.