The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra returns to the World's Fair Park for the 25th Annual Pilot Free Independence Day Concert complete with popular patriotic tunes, classical favorites and a fireworks finale! The performance, conducted by KSO Music Director Lucas Richman, will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 on the South Lawn of the World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. This event is part of the City of Knoxville's Festival on the Fourth. 
 
Music for the evening will include The Star Spangled Banner, John Williams' Overture to the Cowboys, selections from The Sound of Music, the traditional Salute to the Armed Forces, Richman's A Time for Heroes, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and more. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will welcome guest conductor and KSO principal tubist Sande MacMorran to the stage to conduct Copland's Hoedown and Rodeo. MacMorran conducted the orchestra at the KSO's first Pilot FREE Independence Day concert 25 years ago. The concert will conclude with Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever and a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display. Both the concert and fireworks display will be broadcast live on WBIR-TV Channel 10. 
 
The KSO is proud to team with Pilot Corporation, the City of Knoxville, WBIR-TV and the News Sentinel for Festival on the Fourth bringing to the Knoxville community an entire afternoon and evening of family festivities. Activities begin at 2 p.m. and include food vendors, craft booths, bands and activities for children.

Formally established in 1935, the KSO consists of 84 virtuoso musicians under the leadership of Maestro Lucas Richman. The symphony performs more than 250 times each year throughout the region to a total audience of more than 200,000.

For more information regarding the KSO, or the Independence Day Concert, please call 865-291-3310.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra has contributed to the cultural life in East Tennessee since 1935. The KSO is part of the Knoxville Symphony Society which includes the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Pops Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra, five orchestras of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Association and several smaller performing ensembles. Under the leadership of Lucas Richman, the orchestra consists of more than 80 professional musicians and performs more than 250 programs throughout East Tennessee each season. For more information on the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra or the Cades Cove concert please visit www.knoxvillesymphony.com.