Name: America at 250
Start: 2026-03-19T19:30:00-04:00
Location: Eisenhower Auditorium

The Nittany Valley Symphony will present “America at 250,” a concert celebrating America’s vast musical heritage, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium.
The program will feature a range of American musical idioms — including jazz, classical, film music, musical theater and the symphonic tradition — that highlight how American music shaped the 20th century. Included in the program will be Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Suite from “On the Waterfront” and William Grant Still’s Poem for Orchestra, in addition to works by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and John Williams.
In 2026, the United States marks its 250th anniversary, a milestone that invites a celebration of the American voices that have shaped the cultural imagination both at home and abroad. Accordingly, the program features some of those voices that influenced our musical evolution over a period in which American composers helped redefine the global artistic landscape.
Among the composers and musical traditions highlighted will be:
• Cole Porter and the Golden Age of Broadway, with selections from Anything Goes and Kiss Me, Kate
• Irving Berlin, whose popular show tunes such as “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Easter Parade” and “White Christmas” will appear on this program alongside “God Bless America,” Berlin's poignant prayer for peace and guidance in uncertain times
• William Grant Still, whose Poem offers a moving orchestral meditation on hope and resilience
• John Williams, whose scores for films such as Jurassic Park profoundly shaped modern cinematic sound by reintroducing symphonic grandeur to audiences
• Leonard Bernstein, whose music for Candide and On the Waterfront helped cement his status as one of America’s most electrifying musical figures
Tickets are $29 including fees for adults, and $9 including fees for students and youth. Tickets may be purchased at the link or by calling 814-231-8224.
For parking information, visit https://cpa.psu.edu/parking
For accessibility information, visit https://cpa.psu.edu/accessibility
The Nittany Valley Symphony relies on support from generous donors and sponsors to help cover the costs involved in presenting both our performances and our educational and community engagement programming. Thank you to our season sponsor, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, and to all of our contributors for their selfless investment in our tradition of artistic excellence and community service.