Firelands Symphony Orchestra returns with patriotic show on Sunday

HURON TWP. — The Firelands Symphony Orchestra presents its patriotic, American-themed season opening concert "An American Salute" at 4 p.m. Sunday at Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron. The concert will not only feature the full orchestra, led by music director and conductor Carl Topilow, but also guest pianist Kathryn Brown and guest vocalist Kirsten C. Kunkle. Also, the Firelands Symphony Orchestra Chorale returns for two shows one week later under the direction of Michael Shirtz for the annual "Songs of Thanksgiving" concert. There will be two performances: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24. Both shows are at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 510 Columbus Ave., in Sandusky. General admission tickets for all concerts are available at firelandssymphony.com/tickets or by calling the office at 419-621-4800 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. What to expect "An American Salute" features Charles Ives' "Variations on America," Anthony DiLorenzo's "For Spacious Skies," Morton Gould's "American Symphonette No. 2," John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and more. Local veterans in attendance will also be honored and recognized during the Armed Forces Salute. Brown will perform George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," marking its 100th anniversary. She has performed around the globe as concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, widely hailed for her interpretations from Mozart to Gershwin, as well as her premieres of the new music of today. The concert will also feature great American musical theater works from "Into the Woods," "Carousel," "She Loves Me" and "My Fair Lady," featuring guest vocalist Kirsten C. Kunkle. Kunkle is a familiar face to orchestra fans. Following the season premiere for the orchestra is the premier for the Chorale with the "Songs of Thanksgiving" concert. This annual event will have two performances this year to meet demand. Some featured choral works for this concert include Dave Brubeck's "How Does Your Garden Grow," Franz Joseph Haydn's "The Heavens are Telling" from "The Creation," Dan Forrest's "Let Me Listen" and Leonard Bernstein's "Make Our Graden Grow" from Candide. The performance will also feature Rosephayne Powell's "To Sit and Dream," which is based on Langston Hughes's famous poem "To You." The concert will feature interspersed reading and reflections with narrator William Barrett.