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Central Iowa Symphony Presents Free Summer Pops Concert

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It’s a beautiful summer evening and what could be better than a musical tribute to Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and The Music Man?

The only thing would be a free program, and that’s exactly what the Central Iowa Symphony has planned for music lovers in Ames and Boone.

The symphony will present its free summer pops concert at Ames Bandshell Park, 5th Street and Duff Avenue, on Saturday, June 26. The program will be repeated the next evening at Herman Park Pavillion on South Greene Street in Boone. Both concerts will begin at 7 p.m.

Under the direction of conductor Matt Smith, associate director of bands at Iowa State University, the orchestra will perform arrangements that are sure to please just about everyone – from recent film scores to stirring marches to light classical favorites. Included in the program are highlights from Meredith Wilson’s Music Man, a suite from the Harry Potter films, music from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring composed by John Williams, a medley of tunes from beloved Hollywood composer Henry Mancini, and Johann Strauss’ Radetzky March.

“I wanted to go with light classical music and popular pieces from film and stage,” Smith said. “Obviously, many people will recognize themes from the newer movies but there’s also a familiarity with time-tested favorites such as The Music Man because of its connection to Mason City.”

The concert will end with American Salute, a patriotic overture using a number of familiar tunes including “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.”

This year marks the fifth annual summer pops program for the 70-member Central Iowa Symphony.  Concertgoers will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2004-05 concert season at a reduced price. For more information about the Central Iowa Symphony, check the group’s web site at: www.cisymphony.org

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