{"id":273513,"date":"2026-04-18T01:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T01:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/273513\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T01:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T01:43:10","slug":"ypso-celebrates-americas-250th-anniversary-with-the-america-250-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/273513\/","title":{"rendered":"YPSO celebrates America\u2019s 250th anniversary with the \u2018America 250 Festival\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A Bay Area youth orchestra marks America\u2019s 250th anniversary with a festival of American music.\u00a0
May 2, 2026 | 7:00 PM\u00a0
First Church Berkeley | Berkeley, CA\u00a0<\/p>\n

Celebration of American Music Featuring Chamber and Orchestral Works\u00a0
Featuring music by Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, John Adams, Jessie Montgomery, George\u00a0 Walker, Kenji Bunch, and Irving Berlin\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Young People\u2019s Symphony Orchestra (YPSO), California\u2019s oldest youth orchestra, presents\u00a0 the America 250 Festival: Celebration of American Music on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM at First\u00a0 Church Berkeley. The special festival concert commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States with\u00a0 an evening of chamber and orchestral works by American composers spanning more than a century of musical\u00a0 history. The concert also serves as YPSO\u2019s annual Spring Concert\u2014the third concert in its 2025\u20132026\u00a0 subscription series.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As part of nationwide celebrations of America\u2019s 250th anniversary in 2026, the festival explores the musical\u00a0 traditions that have shaped the American orchestral landscape while highlighting the role of young musicians in\u00a0 carrying that legacy forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Presented in an expanded festival format, the event features a first half of chamber music performed by YPSO\u00a0 musicians, followed by a full orchestral program. The festival highlights the diversity and creativity of American\u00a0 composers, from iconic figures such as Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein to influential contemporary voices\u00a0 including Jessie Montgomery, George Walker, and Kenji Bunch.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first half of the festival showcases chamber music performed by YPSO musicians in a variety of ensembles,\u00a0 including strings, brass, winds, and percussion. These smaller ensembles offer audiences an intimate musical\u00a0 experience while allowing students to collaborate closely and explore a wide range of styles and traditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cChamber music encompasses important musical techniques of listening, blending, and playing together like no\u00a0 other musical genre,\u201d said Julie Kim, YPSO\u2019s Chamber Music Director. \u201cAt the America 250 Festival, we will\u00a0 feature several combinations of ensembles to showcase American composers at their best.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The festival program reflects more than a century of American musical creativity, featuring composers who have\u00a0 shaped the nation\u2019s musical identity\u2014from early twentieth-century pioneers to leading voices of today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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PROGRAM<\/p>\n

First Half \u2014 Chamber Music\u00a0
Aaron Copland \u2014 Fanfare for the Common Violists (Viola Ensemble)\u00a0
Robert Hughes \u2014 Three Cowboy Songs, No. 3: Whistling Tune (Wind and Brass Ensemble) Kenji Bunch \u2014 String Circle for Viola Quintet, I (String Quintet)\u00a0
George Walker \u2014 Lyric for Strings (String Ensemble)\u00a0
Irving Berlin \u2014 Puttin\u2019 on the Ritz (Brass Quintet)\u00a0
David K. Bakker \u2014 Five Guys and Some Fries (Percussion Ensemble)\u00a0
Jessie Montgomery \u2014 Strum (String Quartet)<\/p>\n

INTERMISSION<\/p>\n

Second Half \u2014 Orchestra\u00a0
Jessie Montgomery \u2014 Starburst\u00a0
John Adams \u2014 Tromba Lontana\u00a0
Aaron Copland \u2014 Buckaroo Holiday from Rodeo\u00a0
Samuel Barber \u2014 Essay No. 2 for Orchestra, Op. 17\u00a0
Leonard Bernstein \u2014 Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (suite selection)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The second half of the program brings the full orchestra to the stage with a selection of works that highlight the\u00a0 breadth and evolution of American orchestral music across generations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis America 250 Festival program represents a range of American voices in classical music, both chamber and\u00a0 symphonic, from the 20th and 21st centuries,\u201d said Music Director David Ramadanoff. \u201cWe combine two\u00a0 important contemporary voices\u2014Jessie Montgomery and John Adams\u2014with three iconic composers of the 20th\u00a0 century: Aaron Copland, representing the American frontier; Samuel Barber, reflecting American romanticism;\u00a0 and Leonard Bernstein, bringing Broadway to the concert hall.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to the performances, the America 250 Festival includes educational elements that engage students in\u00a0 researching composers, preparing program notes, and sharing insights with audiences about the historical and\u00a0 cultural context of the music.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This project is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Tickets & Information\u00a0<\/p>\n

DETAILS<\/p>\n

$20 General Admission\u00a0Students Free (registration required)\u00a0Box Office & Concert Info: www.ypsomusic.org\/events<\/a>\u00a0Approximate program length: 120 minutes, including intermission.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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About YPSO and Maestro David Ramadanoff\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now in its 89th season, the Young People\u2019s Symphony Orchestra brings together talented young musicians ages\u00a0 11\u201318 from across the Bay Area. Music Director David Ramadanoff has led YPSO for more than three decades,\u00a0 inspiring generations of young performers while presenting innovative orchestral programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Founded in 1936 in Berkeley, YPSO is California\u2019s oldest youth orchestra and the first independent youth\u00a0 orchestra in the nation. Its mission is to encourage young people to become exemplary musicians and young\u00a0 musicians to become exemplary people. The orchestra presents four concerts annually and engages with the\u00a0 community through educational initiatives, outreach programs, and partnerships with local arts organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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