Celebrate America 250 with Wheeling Symphony Orchestra's Annual July 4th Performance!
With food trucks, a beer tent, and a fantastic fireworks show, this Fourth of July tradition is a favorite among locals. Featuring patriotic and classical favorites, this yearâs guest artist is tenor Edward Washington II. Celebrate America is free to attend. The concert begins at 8:00 pm, with fireworks to follow. Featuring: John Devlin, conductor Conductor John Gennaro Devlin is an ardent champion of American music, an innovator of concert design, and a thought leader in the field of classical music. Currently in his seventh season as Music Director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Devlin is only the ninth conductor in its 90-year history to hold that title. In 2025, Devlin began his tenure as the Music Director of the Lancaster (OH) Festival Orchestra. For his work with the WSO, Devlin was named a recipient of the 2023 Georg Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award. Also in 2023, Devlin was honored by Wheelingâs mayor, Glenn F. Elliott, with the Mayorâs Award for âdistinguished service, loyalty, and dedication to our city.â Devlinâs primary artistic goal is to advocate for American music from many different types of genres and creators. With this programmatic focus, Devlin has premiered and/or commissioned over 50 new American works, including pieces by Clarice Assad, Adolphus Hailstork, Arlene Sierra, Leanna Primiani, Eric Nathan, Michael-Thomas Foumai, Enrico Lopez-YaĂąez, Michael Ellis Ingram, Evan Meier, and Quinn Mason. For its commitment to American music, the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra was granted the prestigious Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Award through the League of American Orchestras in both 2023 and in 2025. Devlin has recent or upcoming performances with many significant American soloists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Time for Three, Chris Thile, Sasha Cooke, Clarice Assad, Joshua Roman, Stefan Jackiw, Tessa Lark, Shara Nova, Xavier Foley, Eunice Kim, Third Coast Percussion, Soloman Howard, Madeline Adkins, Tracy Silverman, and Maxim Lando. Music of the stage and of the cinema are also focuses of Devlinâs work with American artists. A lover of all things Broadway, he has collaborated with Sutton Foster, RenĂŠe Elise Goldsberry, Sierra Boggess, Hugh Panaro, Scarlett Strallen, Capathia Jenkins, Morgan James, Dee Roscioli, Christiane Noll, Debbie Gravitte, Anne Runolfsson, and Ryan Shaw. He is also active as a conductor of films with live orchestra soundtrack, including the Harry Potter series, other John Williams scores such as Jurassic Park, and Disney Films projects. For more information, please visit www.JohnDevlinMusic.com. Edward Washington II Edward Washington II is an American tenor whose powerful voice and dazzling coloratura make him a standout talent in the opera world. His remarkable ability to navigate a broad spectrum of musical stylesâfrom classical to contemporaryâcoupled with his international experience, positions him as a versatile and distinguished artist. Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Detroit Opera Annapolis Opera, Opera Orlando and New York City Opera are some of the halls heâs sung in. Notable roles include Beppe in Donizettiâs Rita, Robbins in Gershwinâs Porgy and Bess, Pong in Pucciniâs Turandot, and Tamino in Mozartâs Die ZauberflĂśte. This year heâs made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall, where he has been featured three times. Heâs premiered 7 of the works of American composers Edward Washington II as the former Music and Education Director for the âNegro Spiritualâ Scholarship Foundation in Orlando, he directed their Master Singers ensemble and continues to advocate for the importance of this musical tradition. Mr. Washingtonâs involvement with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia reflects his commitment to the advancement of music in America. Born in England and raised in Saudi Arabia and the United States, Mr. Washington now calls New York City home. Edward holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Stetson University and a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance from Morgan State University, a historically black university. Read the full article
