The music of Aaron Copland, George Gershwin and Rodgers and Hammerstein will echo across Morgan Memorial Park on Aug. 16 as the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra presents a patriotic program celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, offering audiences a musical journey through the nation’s history and culture.
The free concert is part of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival and will feature a selection of orchestral works and Broadway favorites chosen to reflect both America’s musical legacy and the values that have shaped the country.
While many people associate symphony orchestras with composers such as Beethoven and Mozart, Music Director David Bernard said the Massapequa Philharmonic strives to present a much broader repertoire that connects with audiences of all backgrounds.
“The Massapequa Philharmonic is Long Island’s premier symphony orchestra,” Bernard said. “We are about 60 to 80 musicians, depending upon the repertoire, and we perform concerts across Long Island.”
In addition to its home performances in Massapequa, the orchestra serves as the resident orchestra at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, where it has presented traditional symphonic concerts alongside innovative productions, including live performances of the score to Jaws accompanying the film, concerts featuring music by the Beatles and the Indigo Girls, and immersive programs pairing Gustav Holst’s The Planets with an astrophysicist.
For the Morgan Park performance, however, Bernard said the focus is on telling America’s story through music.
Bernard said the concert is designed to celebrate not only music written by American composers, but also the qualities that have defined the nation.
Pieces such as Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Appalachian Spring convey “the hard work, the earnestness, the seriousness of building a country,” Bernard said.
“It’s not just music from America,” he added. “That music is America.”
Among the musicians performing is first violinist Tay Kwak, who also performs with the Glen Cove City School District orchestra. Kwak said joining the Massapequa Philharmonic four years ago after studying conducting with Bernard has been one of the highlights of his musical career.
He said performing in a concert celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary holds special meaning because he and his family immigrated from South Korea before becoming U.S. citizens.
“America has been so good to me and my family,” Kwak said. “If I can be a part of giving back a little bit and help celebrate its wonderful history, I’m all for it.”
Beyond the performances themselves, Bernard said the orchestra is committed to strengthening Long Island’s cultural community through partnerships with organizations including the Tilles Center and the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival.
Congressman Tom Suozzi, chairman of the festival, said the performance reflects the origins of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival, which has long featured orchestral music alongside a variety of other genres.
“We are so excited to welcome back the Massapequa Philharmonic,” Suozzi said. “Classical, entertaining hits by a full-blown orchestra will expose people to a performance they would only be able to experience in Manhattan or on TV. Come to the park for a spectacular, culturally uplifting experience in one of the most beautiful settings.”
