Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra musicians rehearse for the ensemble’s July 4 “America Strong” performance, which will follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 guidelines. Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
“The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is presenting the ‘America Strong’ concert this Fourth of July at Dickies Arena—its first concert in more than three months,” writes Bryan Mena in Tuesday’s (6/30) Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX). “But because of the pandemic, this concert is expected to look quite different. ‘We’re going to have the singers physically separate from the conductor, the dancers in a different part of Dickies [Arena], plastic shields around the woodwinds and brass players…. Conductor conducting in a mask,’ said Keith Cerny, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra…. There also isn’t going to be an audience at this concert…. People can catch the hour-long performance on WFAA-TV/Channel 8, at 9 p.m. on July 4. A recording of the concert will be available on GWSO’s website for two weeks following the event. The … concert is going to feature guest artists from the Fort Worth Opera, The Cliburn, and Texas Ballet Theater…. The performance will feature works by Black composers, including William Christopher (W.C.) Handy, Scott Joplin and James Weldon Johnson.… ‘America Strong’ will be Miguel Harth-Beyoda’s final concert with the FWSO, concluding a 20-year run as music director.”
