War of 1812 Bicentennial Concert Event Announced

LEESBURG, Va., Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "1812: An American Celebration" is billed as the largest War of 1812 Bicentennial event in the Greater Washington DC Capital Region.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120821/PH60445 )

The Sunday, September 23rd family festival, to be held on the beautiful lawns of Leesburg's Ida Lee Park starting at 2 p.m., will feature the entire Loudoun Symphony Orchestra performing a wide range of historically compelling music, including "The 1812 Overture," Tchaikovsky's powerful, popular and robust praise to victory.

The concert's outdoor performance by the Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Mark Allen McCoy, will unite the past with the present with special guest speakers, and a stirring and memorable program including our Nation's "Star Spangled Banner," plus "America the Beautiful," "Fanfare for the Common Man," the narrated "Liberty for All," the explosive Tchaikovsky Overture, and other beloved and emotionally moving works.

The Orchestra, the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, Visit Loudoun, and the Town of Leesburg today officially announced this Bicentennial Concert. During the War of 1812, historic Leesburg served as the temporary capital of the United States when the valuable papers of the Federal Archives, including the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, were brought to town for safekeeping.

"This will truly be an event to remember as history comes alive in this special production. It will be an opportunity for families in the National Capital Region to gather in a beautiful setting, enjoy one of the nation's finest regional orchestras, and celebrate America's second war for independence," said Ara Bagdasarian, event organizer and President of the Loudoun Symphony.

Concertgoers will enjoy an afternoon filled with a unique sense of history, music, and place. The event lawn at Ida Lee Park will be the perfect gathering place for families who want to connect with our patriotic heritage spanning over two centuries. Guest performers include the West Point Alumni Glee Club and a fife and drum corps will welcome attendees as they arrive.

"This region contains more history than any other region in the nation, including many War of 1812 sites. This is Where America Happened so this concert is a fitting tribute to the patriotic music throughout our country's past," said Cate Magennis Wyatt, founder and president of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership.

The concert starts at 4:00 pm, with the gates opening at 2:00 pm. Advance general admission tickets are $20 and children under twelve are free. Additional event sponsors include AOL, BB&T, NOVEC, OMNILERT, TD Bank and Homewood Suites Leesburg. Visit www.1812Concert.org for more information or to order tickets online.

About the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra

The mission of the Loudoun Symphony is to present classical music, provide educational programs, and offer performing opportunities to local musicians, thus enriching the lives and cultural climate of our community. To carry out this mission, the Symphony produces a season of concerts including a Family Concert, provides free admission for children to concerts, offers a Youth Orchestra, provides a free String Workshop program that is open to all players, presents in-school concerts, and offers instrument petting zoos for children. To learn more, visit www.LoudounSymphony.org.

About The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership

The JTHG Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the unparalleled history within the swath of land from Monticello to Gettysburg and has successfully created the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area and has had the Old Carolina Road (Route 15/20/231) from Gettysburg, through Maryland, to Monticello designated a National Scenic Byway. For more information, go to: www.HallowedGround.org.

About Visit Loudoun

Visit Loudoun is the destination management organization for Loudoun County, Va., known as DC's Wine Country®, located 25 miles from Washington, DC. This not-for-profit organization develops and implements programs that promote tourism and travel to Loudoun and its towns, to increase visitation and generate visitor spending. The organization showcases Virginia's culinary and heritage assets, including award-winning vineyards, horse country, scenic byways, and towns and villages steeped in history. Visit www.VisitLoudoun.org for more information.

SOURCE Loudoun Symphony Orchestra