Salute To Freedom

The season kicks off on July 4 with the annual Salute to Freedom concert, a patriotic celebration that honors our nation’s independence with moving American favorites such as American Salute, God Bless America, 1812 Overture, and more with guest soloist Jennie Sophia and guest narrator Muffet McGraw, former Notre Dame women’s basketball coach! Following the performance, enjoy a fireworks show provided by the City of South Bend as you exit the Morris.

This concert is free and open to the public! Tickets are required.

Program

Coming Soon

About Jennie Sophia

Jennie Sophia is thrilled to be joining SBSO for the Salute to Freedom concert. She has portrayed many iconic musical-theater heroines and sung in various concerts across the Midwest, from Fiona/Brigadoon (Goodman Theatre) and Nellie Forbush/South Pacific (Broadway national tour, also Ogunquit Playhouse) to Fantine/Les Misérables (Drury Lane Oakbrook), Laurey/Oklahoma! (Marriott Lincolnshire), Mrs. Potts/Beauty and The Beast (Paramount Theater), Guinevere/Camelot (Light Opera Works), and Lily/The Secret Garden (Court Theatre). At the Lyric Opera, she played Olga/The Merry Widow, starring Renee Fleming. At the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, she played Mistress/Passion. Jennie grew up in Goshen, IN, where she began her performance career at various regional theaters and concert venues. Among her leading roles at Wagon Wheel Theatre have been Maria/The Sound of Music, Madge/Picnic, Laurey/ Oklahoma!, Cinderella/Cinderella, and Hope Harcourt/Anything Goes!. She has also appeared at the American Girl Theatre as Cornelia and Tia Dolores/Circle of Friends and at The Round Barn Theatre as Belle/Beauty and the Beast, Katie and Hilda/ Plain and Fancy, Lili/ Carnival, and Hodel/Fiddler on the Roof. She resides in Wheaton, IL, with the loves of her life, Dan, Gavin, and Norman (the dog). 

About Muffet McGraw 

Muffet McGraw is a Hall of Fame basketball coach best known for her legendary tenure at Notre Dame, where she served as head coach from 1987 to 2020. Under her leadership, the Fighting Irish made 26 NCAA tournament appearances, including nine Final Fours and seven championship games, winning national titles in 2001 and 2018. She became the sixth Division I coach to win multiple NCAA championships. 

A Pennsylvania native, McGraw played at Saint Joseph’s University and briefly competed professionally before beginning her coaching career. She coached at Lehigh University from 1982 to 1987 before joining Notre Dame. Over her career, she earned over 900 wins and received numerous accolades, including the Naismith Coach of the Year (2001), USBWA Coach of the Year, and the Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. She was inducted into both the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2011) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2017). 

Since retiring, McGraw has worked as a studio analyst for the ACC Network and teaches sports leadership at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. She is also active in local politics.