In the June 5 Broad and Liberty (Philadelphia), Beth Ann Rosica writes, “More than 100 student musicians performed a stirring tribute to America’s 250th anniversary at the Kimmel Center on Sunday. Narrated by historian Dr. Alan C. Guelzo, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s program featured four works reflecting the spirit, complexity, and evolution of the American story. Led by Music Director and Conductor Louis Scaglione, the ambitious program showcased the extraordinary talent of the orchestra’s student musicians.” The program included “The Star-Spangled Banner” arranged by Igor Stravinsky, “New England Triptych’ by William Schuman, “The Testament of Freedom” by Randall Thompson, and Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3. “The program was inspiring on many levels. The orchestra music accompanied by the [Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia] was moving and inspiring, and the celebration of our nation’s birth through music and historical storytelling by Guelzo was meaningful and poignant. Watching these young musicians perform at such a high level, it became impossible not to think about the role of excellence, discipline, and achievement in both music and the American experiment itself. Commemorating the best and most challenging aspects of America, the program highlighted the theme of slavery and its eventual end.”
