06/11/2026
Tickets ARE now on sale for our upcoming June 27, 2026 "Independence Day Spectacular!" Concert, presented this year (just as we did last year) at the gorgeous outdoor setting of the Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst (ECCO) at 7 PM. As usual. our dirt-cheap advance-sale tickets may now be purchased by visiting our website: http://MYSO.live, or by directly clicking on this link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/collaborative-arts-and-culture-foundation/mariposa-yosemite-symphony-orchestra-annual-independence-day-spectacular-june-27-2026
I'll have my usual overwhelming program notes ready to post to our website ASAP, and to make sure I make that announcement here. We have a terrific program lined up for you, with two of most recognized AND beloved works by the dean of American composers Aaron Copland. And - as usual, much more to get you into the proper mood for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration: the 250th Anniversary of our Declaration of Independence! (NOT to be confused with the "birthday" of the United States - that didn't happen until The United States was actually created with the ratification of the US Constitution, right? I mean: can declare MYSELF a sovereign citizen, but that doesn't make it so until I've fought - and vanquished any opposers to my statement, and then have created a governing document which tells everyone HOW I'm going to act as a sovereign citizen. And that's akin to our history: I merely avow that we really didn't become the United States of America until we had declared our independence from England, had fought and WON our independence from England, and then - had eventually created our governing document and shared it with the world. How many of you realize we actually operated as a loose confederation of individual colony/states under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 - 1789 - but that was more a loose agreement or MOU between those colonies that they would retain their autonomy and cooperation. It wasn't until the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1789 and the "retirement" of those Articles that truly, this FEDERAL nation - the UNITED States of America - was born....
Yeah, I know. I'm finicky. But it was that sort of attention to detail that the Founders exhibited; mine is simply, humbly following in their mighty, huge footsteps...and falling into them.
