Maestro Jonathan Allentoff will lead the BSO in a delightful Summer program. The evening will feature a diverse selection of music, including light classics, iconic film scores, and popular favorites. We are also thrilled to welcome vocalist Michael DeLuca, who will join the BSO to perform beloved classics from the Broadway stage and more.
The concert features the following pieces:
| Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | John Williams, arr. Johnnie Vinson | 4:40 |
| Angel City | Soon Hee Newbold | 5:50 |
| Blue | Robert W. Smith | 2:20 |
| Shrek: The Best of Smash Mouth | Smash Mouth arr: Paul Murtha | 5:10 |
| Yoda’s Theme | John Williams | 3:20 |
| Soul Bossa Nova | Quincy Jones, arr. Johnnie Vinson | 3:20 |
| Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation | Henry Mancini, arr. Jonathan Allentoff | 2:20 |
| Gershwin by George! | George Gershwin, arr. Jerry Brubaker | 6:40 |
| Intermission | 15:00 | |
| Cohan Medley – George M. Cohan | Cohan Medley – George M. Cohan | 2:45 |
| Vocalist Michael DeLuca will perform the following: | ||
| I want to Hear a Yankee Doodle Tune | George M. Cohen, arr. Michael DeLuca | 3:60 |
| Moon River | Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini, arr. Jonathan Allentoff | 2:36 |
| You Make Me Feel So Young | Mack Gordan & Josef Myro, arr. Jonathan Allentoff | 3:35 |
| America the Beautiful | Samuel A. Ward, arr. Michael DeLuca | 4:00 |
| Orchestra’s Finale | ||
| Magnificent Seven | Elmer Bernstein, arr. Roy Phillippe | 2:45 |
PROGRAM NOTES
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker — John Williams
Arrangement by Johnnie Vinson
This piece is an arrangement of selections from the movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The selections included are:
- Star Wars – Main Theme
- The Rise of Skywalker
- Anthem of Evil
- The Imperial March (Date Vader’s Theme)
- Rey’s Theme
- Finale
Angel City — Soon See Newbold
Ms. Newbold, being inspired by the multicultural, Spanish, and Mexican roots of Los Angeles composed Angel City as an original creative project.
Blue — Robert W. Smith
Is the second movement of a three-part suite entitled Krisanna’s Colors (movements are titled: Red, Blue, and Yellow). Krisanna Roberts was a beloved student at the UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, Alabama. Her parents were Mark and Laura Roberts. Robert W. Smith was commissioned by the school’s music program to write Krisanna’s Colors as a tribute to her legacy after she fought a courageous battle with a rare brain cancer. The colors named in the movements are the ones she used to describe her emotions and moods. A “blue day” for Krisanna represented a sad and deeply reflective day. However, even in the face of immense adversity, her enduring spirit found beauty in those moments.
Shrek: The Best of Smash Mouth
Arranged by Paul Murtha
Even before Shrek, Smash Mouth was already an iconic rock band of the late 1990s. This upbeat and entertaining medley arranged by Paul Murtha includes All Star; Walkin’ on the Sun and I’m a Believer. Sit back and enjoy a nostalgic trip to the kingdom of Duloc.
Yoda’s Theme — John Williams
This was for the character Yoda in the Star Wars franchise first appeared in Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Williams chose to score Yoda’s theme with a rich, classical warmth that captures the character’s hidden depth, ancient wisdom, and nobility.
Soul Bossa Nova — Quincy Jones
Arrangement by Johnnie Vinson
Soul Bossa Nova is one of the most vibrant, universally recognizable instrumentals in pop culture history. Released as the opening track on his 1962 album Big Band Bossa Nova.
When Mike Myers wrote Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, he chose “Soul Bossa Nova” as the film’s main theme as a nostalgic homage to his childhood. The movie’s massive success permanently married the track to the 1960s spy aesthetic and retro comedy.
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation — Henry Mancini
Restored and Arranged by Jonathan Allentoff
Henry Mancini’s score for the 1962 20th Century Fox comedy Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (starring James Stewart and Maureen O’Hara) is a fascinating, breezy time capsule. Released the very same year Mancini won Oscars for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this soundtrack beautifully showcases his ability to blend jazz, mid-century pop aesthetics, and light orchestral comedy.
Maestro Jonathan Allentoff frequently travels to the film score archives in Los Angeles to research rare musical compositions. During a recent trip, he discovered Henry Mancini’s original manuscript for the film Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation. Inspired by this discovery, he meticulously restored and arranged the piece into the special version you will hear tonight.
Gershwin by George! — George Gershwin
Arranged by Jerry Brubaker
This composition is a compilation of some of the most historic masterpieces written by the legendary American composer George Gershwin into a single, cohesive performance piece by Jerry Brubaker. The six Gershwin masterpieces featured are:
- Strike Up the Band!
- I Got Rhythm & Embraceable You
- An American in Paris
- Piano Prelude No. 2
- Summertime
- Rhapsody in Blue
Cohan Medley — George M. Cohan
Arranged by Norman Philip Hart
George M. Cohan (1878–1942). Known as “The Man Who Owned Broadway,” Cohan practically invented the modern American musical comedy, transforming it from rigid operettas into fast-paced, high-energy entertainment. Cohan was a prolific composer and performer whose music rallied a nation through two world wars. In these medley you’ll hear the following well known pieces:
- Yankee Doodle Dandy
- Over There
- Give My Regards to Broadway
- Harrigan
- You’re a Grand Old Flag
Songs By Vocalist Michael DeLuca
I want to Hear a Yankee Doodle Tune — George M. Cohen
Arranged by Michael DeLuca
While it isn’t as globally famous today as its sister song The Yankee Doodle Boy (which features the line I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy), I Want to Hear a Yankee Doodle Tune is a crucial, high-energy historical piece from George M. Cohan’s early 20th-century Broadway repertoire.
First recorded by Cohan himself on a 78 rpm record in May 1911, the song captures the exact musical formula that turned him into a legend.
I Want to Hear a Yankee Doodle Tune stands as a vibrant, historic time capsule. It marks the exact moment American popular music broke away from European traditions to forge its own loud, syncopated, and fiercely optimistic identity.
You can stream this Cohan song on AMERICA: 250 Years Young, available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Moon River — Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini
Arranged by Jonathan Allentoff
Moon River is one of the most celebrated, enduring pop standards of the 20th century. Composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, the song was custom-written for the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
It went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song, swept the 1962 Grammy Awards (including Record of the Year and Song of the Year), and permanently reshaped the landscape of American popular music.
You Make me Feel so Young — Mack Gordan & Josef Myro
Arranged by Jonathan Allentoff
You Make Me Feel So Young (1946) is a glittering jewel of the Great American Songbook. With music by Josef Myrow and lyrics by the legendary Mack Gordon, it stands as the ultimate musical celebration of romance as an emotional fountain of youth.
Ultimately, “You Make Me Feel So Young” is celebrated because it escapes the trap of being a purely nostalgic love song. By merging Myrow’s bright, upward-leaping melodic steps with Gordon’s breezy, rhythmic poetry, it serves as a timeless, sonic anti-aging serum for whoever is listening.
America the Beautiful—Samuel A. Ward & Katharine Lee Bates
Arranged by Michael DeLuca
America the Beautiful is widely considered the United States’ unofficial second national anthem. Its enduring power lies in a unique historical accident: it was created by two people who never actually met, marrying a poem written on a mountaintop with a hymn composed on a ferry boat.
The words were written as a poem by Katharine Lee Bates, an English professor at Wellesley College. In the summer of 1893, she took a train ride across the country to teach a short session in Colorado.
During her trip, she visited Pikes Peak, standing over 14,000 feet above sea level. Looking out across the vast expanse, she was so deeply moved by the vista that the opening lines crystallized in her mind right then and there:
- “Spacious skies” and “amber waves of grain” described the Kansas wheat fields she had just passed on the train.
- “Purple mountain majesties” was her direct reaction to the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain range.
America the Beautiful, the closing track from AMERICA: 250 Years Young, is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Finale
The Magnificent Seven — Elmer Bernstein
Arranged by Roy Phillippe
Elmer Bernstein’s score for the 1960 Western classic The Magnificent Seven is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential film scores in cinema history. Nominated for an Academy Award, its main theme essentially redefined the sound of the American Western.
Meet the Vocal Artist: Michael DeLuca
Michael DeLuca appears regularly as vocal soloist with the Brighton Symphony Orchestra as well as several other community orchestras in the Rochester and Finger Lakes regions. He enjoys exploring the rich history of the American songbook by creating self-produced studio albums featuring his original arrangements and vocal interpretations. To date, these albums have generated over 3 million streams worldwide. His latest project – AMERICA: 250 Years Young – is a vibrant collection of patriotic classics and favorites reimagined for the nation’s Semiquincentennial, and is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other major platforms.
Alongside his lifelong musical career, Michael spent over 25 years as a marketing professional for digital imaging products at Eastman Kodak Company, Truesense Imaging, Inc., and ON Semiconductor. He holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Yale University.
To listen to his albums and view upcoming concert performances, visit MichaelDeLucaMusic.com.