The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra’s 2012 New Year’s Eve concert title, New Year’s- The American Way, holds a double meaning. First, it features classic American music. Second, conductor Gregory Vajda will celebrate his first New Year’s Eve as an American citizen. And if that wasn’t all-American enough for you, the HSO’s special guests that night will be the Army Materiel Command Band.

Celebrate

New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate. And how often do you get to celebrate someone’s first official New Year’s as an American citizen? With a truly American score accompanying the moment? Unless you live in a TV show or movie I’d say never. OR you buy your tickets to Huntsville Symphony Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve concert now.

“It is going to be a special concert for me since I just became an American citizen this August, and we’re doing an all American program. The collaboration with the Army Material Band and the great composers like Copland and Gershwin will make this a wonderful way to kick off your party time and to celebrate the end of the year and the coming of the new year together,” Gregory told me.

BONUS: We want to send YOU to HSO’s New Year’s Eve concert! Enter to win tickets at the end of the post.

The Music

Speaking of music, I got a sneak speak at the selections the orchestra will be playing on New Year’s Eve. As Gregory said, the entire evening will feature music from great American composers, and anyone familiar with great American music will love the night’s selections.

You’ll hear:

Morton Gould, Star Spangled Overture
George Gershwin, An American in Paris
Aaron Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man
John Williams, Summon the Heroes
Leonard Bernstein, On the Town
Frank Proto, Casey at the Bat
John Phillip Sousa, Stars and Stripes Forever

And more great American classics!

Special Guests

The HSO’s guests for the New Year’s concert will be the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Band. The AMC Band proudly serves the Soldiers and civilians of the U.S. Army Materiel Command stationed at more than 140 locations worldwide. The mission of Army bands is to provide music throughout the spectrum of military operations to instill in our forces the will to fight and win, foster the support of our citizens, and promote our national interests at home and abroad. Their HSO performance will be conducted by Peter Gillies, Chief Warrant Officer.

Since November 2003, the band has deployed in support of AMC Soldiers and civilians forward deployed in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. The AMC band has performed in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Afghanistan. The band is currently performing over 400 musical mission per year. To learn more about the AMC Band visit their website.