Music under the stars with the Long Island Philharmonic

The Long Island Philharmonic, sorely missed by its many fans throughout the area, gears up for its summer season in the parks. Once again, the orchestra will perform at the Islip Arts Council’s annual free concert, a summertime ritual for music lovers, on Saturday, July 14, at 8 p.m., at the Heckscher State Park stage in East Islip.

Maestro David Stewart Wiley, music director and conductor, leads the orchestra in a Salute to the Armed Forces of the U.S.A., in honor of returning veterans and all the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The patriotic program includes selections from “Patriot,” “Satchmo! A Tribute to Louis Armstrong,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Irving Berlin: A Symphonic Portrait,” and much more. A spectacular fireworks display will light up the night sky following the concert’s rousing finale.

As always, concertgoers are urged to arrive early to this popular event. Many visitors bring family and friends for picnicking throughout the day. Admission is free, with a $10 vehicle use fee until 5 p.m. After that, a $10 donation will be requested. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a canned or non-perishable food item for donation to Long Island Cares. The orchestra continues its free summer concert series on Friday, Aug. 10, at 7:30 p.m., at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre at Eisenhower Park. For more information, visit www.liphilharmonic.org.