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The Hays Symphony will once again be joining the festivities of the Fall Art Walk by holding an outdoor concert on Friday, August 23, at 7:30 p.m. under the Hays Pavilion. The concert, themed “Let’s Dance,” will contain an assortment of folk music from around the world, including Hungarian dances, Irish reels, and more.
This warm-weathered tradition of the Outdoor Pops Concert consistently draws a large crowd of attendees. Part of this is due to the Hays Symphony’s commitment to providing live classical music and events to the community, completely free and open to all. On Friday night, attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, sit back and relax, and enjoy a lively selection of folk dances amidst family and friends.
At last year’s Fall Art Walk, the orchestra was met with unexpected weather and was forced to pack up after their third number. Given this, the members of the orchestra look forward to returning downtown and holding the concert with renewed energy and spirit.
Along with the music, attendees will be treated to cookies complimentary of Cathy’s Breads. The outdoor concert event is made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.
“Let’s Dance” marks the first concert of the 2024-25 season. Looking ahead, the Hays Symphony has a rich and diverse program lined up.
In September, cello virtuoso Ben Cline will highlight “Dark Whimsy,” featuring Shostakovich’s brooding and off-kilter Cello Concerto No. 2 and Beethoven’s lighthearted yet fiery Symphony No. 8.
The annual Children’s Halloween Concert will return in October under the theme “¡Fiesta Mexicana!,” a musical and cultural celebration of Mexico that is sure to put smiles on faces. As winter sets in, “Holiday Pops Around the World” will feature familiar and not-so-familiar holiday music from around the globe.
In the spring, the third annual “Concerto/Aria Concert” will showcase the talented music students of Fort Hays State University. The season will close with “A Song of Love and Jealousy,” featuring Stravinsky’s masterpiece Petrushka, as well as piano virtuoso Irena Ravitskaya performing Grieg’s beloved piano concerto.
Attendees are encouraged to reserve tickets for future concerts in advance on the symphony’s website at https://www.hayssymphony.org where they can also make donations to sustain free classical music in the Hays community.