| Happy Birthday America!
| | | Music Celebrations International is pleased to be an official partner of America's Anniversary Weekend, May 10-14, 2007. This event will mark the 400th anniversary of our nation's birthplace. The goal of this very special anniversary is to capture the spirit, imagination, and diversity of Americans and to develop that energy into a national event that showcases Virginia's unique role as the birthplace of modern America and the cradle of American democratic traditions, cultures, ideologies and principles - 400 years strong. |
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The Commemorative Choir and Orchestra
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The signature event of the Anniversary Weekend will be the finale concert on Sunday, May 13th. This concert will include nationally recognized talent, and current plans are to provide national television coverage. An integral part of this concert will be a commemorative choir and orchestra made up of outstanding musicians from each of the 50 states in the union.
The commemorative choir will consist of 1,607 singers (Jamestown was founded in 1607) with the host choir being the Viginia Symphony Chorus under the direction of Robert Shoup. The commemorative orchestra will consist of 400 musicians (it will be the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown) with the host orchestra being the Virginia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of JoAnn Falletta. MCI has been asked to seek out a diverse cross-section of America when soliciting participation in the commemorative choir and orchestra, including musicians varying in age, ethnicity and geopraphy.
While in Virginia, selected choirs and orchestras will participate in four massed rehearsals leading up to the finale concert. At this concert, the commemorative choir and orchestra will perform as a group as well as provide supporting music to the national acts and other entertainment. Select musical groups may also have the opportunity to perform at stand-alone concerts throughout the Anniversary Weekend.
A HISTORIC PLACE - A TIMELESS EVENT
While visiting in the Historic Triangle area (Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown), musical groups will be able to participate in outstanding sightseeig availabel at some of the most historic sites in our country's history. There will also be opportunities for groups to view some of the many Anniversary-related events that will take place throughout the week, plus time to unwind at Busch Gardens, named the world's "Favorite Theme Park" for the fouth year in a row.
For the 400th anniversary, we are anticipating local, national and international dignitaries, as well as large audiences. Part of this expectation is based on the 350th anniversary celebrations which took place in 1957 and attracted over one million visitors, guests and dignitaries. A highlight of the event was the visit of Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. |
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