As the United States marks its 250th birthday, the Overland Park Orchestra celebrates this milestone with a concert devoted entirely to American music—works that reflect the nation’s character, its landscapes, its cultural diversity, and its evolving artistic voice. Each piece on tonight’s program offers a different window into the American story, creating a musical journey that spans centuries, regions, and traditions.

We begin with the National Anthem, a symbol of unity and resilience whose familiar melody has accompanied generations through moments of challenge and triumph. From there, the program travels down the Mississippi River through Ferde Grofé’s Mississippi Suite, a work that captures the river’s mythic presence and the communities shaped by its waters. George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue propels us into the modern era with its groundbreaking fusion of classical form and jazz idioms—a sound that helped define America’s musical identity in the 20th century.

The concert then turns to…