July 3, 2026 - 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate Freedom with the South Bend Symphony
The South Bend Symphony and guest conductor David Lockington present a powerful community concert honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes. Experience patriotic favorites and uplifting orchestral music in an inspiring celebration of freedom at the Morris Performing Arts Center.
Admission free, but tickets are required for entry. Reserve your tickets in advance.
Program
JOHN STAFFORD SMITH / arr. Damrosch
The Star-Spangled Banner
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Overture from Candide
MORTON GOULD
American Salute
Jay UNGAR / arr. Custer
Ashokan Farewell
LEROY ANDERSON
Fiddle-Faddle
AARON COPLAND
Our Town
Adolphus HAILSTORK
Fanfare on Amazing Grace
MEREDITH WILLSON / arr. Hayman
The Music Man: Symphonic Impressions
Intermission
AARON COPLAND
Fanfare for the Common Man
Hoe-Down from “Rodeo”
ALBERT VON TILZER / arr. Morbach
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
John WILLIAMS
Hymn to the Fallen
Robert LOWDEN / Tim BERENS
Armed Forces Salute
SAMUEL A. WARD / arr. Dragon
America the Beautiful
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
1812 Overture
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA
The Stars and Stripes Forever!
Following the concert, audiences are invited to continue the celebration as the City of South Bend lights up the night sky with fireworks display scheduled to begin between 9:30 and 9:40 p.m.
Please keep in mind the following:
Fireworks will be launched from the piers below Plaza Park. Due to nearby buildings, fireworks will not be visible directly outside of the Morris.
Recommended viewing areas include:
• The Colfax Bridge sidewalk
• MLK Drive below Jon Hunt Plaza
• Howard Park
• Seitz Park
Traffic & Safety:
To ensure public safety, the Jefferson Street bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic from 9:00–10:30 p.m. Patrons should use designated walkways to safely access the viewing areas.
David Lockington has enjoyed 40 years conducting in the US, Europe and Asia. In addition to Music Director positions with orchestras in California, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Colorado, Wyoming and New York, he has guest conducted dozens of other orchestras.
His longest tenure was with the Grand Rapids Symphony from 2000-2016. Lockington was also Principal Guest Conductor for OSPA in Oviedo, Spain for almost 10 years. He conducted the ASMI Festival for three summers in Italy.
Lockington has made 10 recordings, including one playing his own works for cello. His recording with harpist Deborah Henson Conant and the Grand Rapids Symphony was nominated for a Grammy.
Other recordings include single composer albums by Adolphus Hailstork, Philip Sawyers and Avner Dorman. His recording with Dylana Jenson and the London Symphony Orchestra of the Barber and Shostakovich violin concertos is fast becoming a classic.
Lockington grew up in London, England and, after attending Cambridge University, emigrated to the US in 1978 to study with Aldo Parisot and Otto Werner Mueller at Yale. He started his conducting career while still playing as Assistant Principal Cello with the Denver Symphony Orchestra.
Salute to Freedom is proudly sponsored by
Salute to Freedom is proudly supported by
Morris Performing Arts Center
211 N. Michigan Street
South Bend, IN 46601
211 North Michigan Street
211 North Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601, USA