Sounds of America

Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 7:00 PM, Eldridge Park, Elmira

Free community concert, no tickets required!

Join us for an unforgettable summer evening as we transform Elmira’s Eldridge Park into a vibrant open-air concert hall. Sounds of America is a free outdoor symphony concert celebrating the spirit of our nation and the joy of community—an experience that’s as uplifting as it is unforgettable.

Set beside the scenic lake, this one-night-only event features a full 58-piece orchestra celebrating the sounds of America—from patriotic favorites like God Bless America and Battle Hymn of the Republic to Broadway classics, big band hits, regional tunes, and the stirring finale of Stars and Stripes Forever.

Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and enjoy the company of family and friends as music fills the summer air. Children will dance, neighbors will gather, and the evening will end in spectacular fashion—with fireworks lighting up the sky above the water.

Whether you’re a lifelong symphony lover or hearing a live orchestra for the first time, this concert is for everyone. It’s a celebration of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the sounds that bring us together.

Free and open to all. No tickets required. Just bring your love of music!

FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT

Sat, June 27
7:00 PM
Eldridge Park

96 Eldridge Park Dr, Elmira, NY 14901

In the event of inclement weather, the Sounds of America concert will be relocated to the LECOM Event Center (155 N Main St, Elmira, NY 14901).

Please keep an eye on this page or our Facebook page to stay informed of any location changes.

"Marking the 250th anniversary of American independence with a summer outdoor symphony concert at the Eldridge Park is more than a ceremonial gesture—it’s a powerful cultural statement about who we are and how we remember.”

—Toshi Shimada, Music Director and Conductor

Concert Repertoire

All timings are estimations

Presentation of the Flags by the Southern Tier Young Marines Color Guard

Star Spangled Banner by Smith (2 mins)
Armed Forces March by Wendel (4 mins)
God Bless America by Berlin (3 mins)
Colonial Song by Grainger (6 mins)
Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. Carmen Dragon) by Steffe (4 mins)
Cohan Medley (arr. Eric Knight) by Cohan (6 mins)
- Grand Old Flag
- I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy
- Mary’s a Grand Old Name
- Over There
- Harrigan
- Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway
- Give My Regards to Broadway
Guadalcanal March from Victory at Sea (arr. Robert Russell Bennett) by Rodgers (4 mins)
From Sea to Shining Sea by Wendel (9 mins)
San Francisco
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Meet Me in Saint Louis
The Tennessee Waltz
Chicago
My Old Kentucky Home
Georgia on My Mind
Carolina in the Morning
New York, New York

Intermission (20 mins)

Here Comes the Bands No. 1 by Norris (13 mins)
- In the Mood (Glenn Miller)
- Begin the Beguine (Artie Shaw)
- You Made me Love you (Harry James)
- Moonlight Serenade (Glenn Miller)
- Skyliner (Charlie Barnet)
- Gettin’ Sentimental Over You (Tommy Dorsey)
- Sing, Sing, Sing (Benny Goodman)
Shenandoah (arr. Carmen Dragon) (3 mins)
1812 Overture (Boston Pops Cut version) by Tchaikovsky (15 mins)
America the Beautiful (arr. Dragon) by Ward (4 mins)
Stars and Stripes Forever by Sousa (4 mins)

Know Before You Go

Eldridge Park
96 Eldridge Park Dr, Elmira, NY 14901

For more information on Party in the Park, visit comepartyinthepark.com.

The Sounds of America concert is completely free and open to the public. No tickets required! Bring the whole family.
Yes! Presented as part of Party in the Park, the free outdoor concert will feature a full symphony orchestra performing a collection of beloved American classics and patriotic favorites on the Hilliard Family Stage.
For all the events happening prior to our concert, please check out the official Party in the Park Facebook event here.
Run time for the concert is approximately 110 minutes and includes a 15 minute intermission.