Memorial Day is a holiday to honor and remember those members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving our great nation. It originated in the years following the Civil War and finally became an official federal holiday in 1971. On a day meant to commemorate those many servicemen and women who have lost their lives over these hundreds of years, it is hard to find the right words to do so. We as musicians, therefore, turn to the language of music to express our feelings: sorrow for our losses and gratitude for the freedoms afforded us through unselfish sacrifice.
“American Portraits” is meant to be a program which celebrates the contributions of an array of different people to the rich history of America. On Memorial Day, the idea is to “memorialize” people ranging from a cowboy, to an astronaut, to a WWII soldier, the mother of a mass shooting victim, and a Tin Pan Alley composer. We also pay tribute to all of our veterans and celebrate our patriotic spirit during this special concert.
The Palmetto Concert Band is pleased to welcome newly-named Director of Bands at the University of South Carolina, Cormac Cannon, to the podium for this annual patriotic concert!
Palmetto Concert Band 