JULY 4TH TRADITION CONTINUES

By RACHEL HUNTER
WATERTOWN TIMES INTERN
SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2011

Dominic J. Fiorentino, 70, of Watertown glanced questioningly toward the stage as the Symphony Syracuse began playing "O Canada." But a smile emerged a few moments later when he heard the all-familiar sounds of the "Star Spangled Banner."

"I love to listen to all the patriotic music that the orchestra plays," he said. "If they weren't here, I wouldn't be here either. I come for their music every year. Listening to their sweet, relaxed style is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday."

Mr. Fiorentino was one of the thousands gathered at Thompson Park to celebrate the upcoming holiday with the 27th annual "Concert in the Park" and fireworks display.

The sea of faces turned toward the stage as Symphony Syracuse, under the direction of Daniel Hege, presented "An Independence Day Celebration," featuring several patriotic favorites including Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and John Phillip Sousa's "Stars & Stripes Forever."

Symphony Syracuse was founded by about 65 musicians of the former Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, which ceased operation and declared bankruptcy. After SSO's season was canceled, the holiday concert was dependent on the community's support.

Along with 26 other community members and The Northern New York Community Foundation, former Watertown Mayor T. Urling Walker raised more than $25,000 so that the patriotic show could go on.

"I founded it 27 years ago and wasn't going to just let it go away," Mr. Walker said.

The Northern New York Community Foundation's contribution was a one-time $5,000 grant.

Mildred A. Clark of Clayton said she makes a tradition out of the event each year and was extremely happy to hear it was going on as planned.

"It is at these kind of events that you realize what it is to truly be an American," she said. "You have all these families gathering together and it's so peaceful. You can't really get that any other time of the year."

Several who came were curious to see if the new orchestra would provide the same quality of music.

Dexter resident Craig W. Tucker said he wasn't disappointed.

"The name may have changed but it's the same people and their playing is as good as ever," he said. "This is a great way to see them... I didn't have to pay. It's always good to save a buck when you can."

Northern New York Community Foundation Executive Director Rande S. Richardson said similar orchestral or instrumental performances will be able to continue this year since the foundation board agreed to utilize the former Syracuse Symphony Orchestra Endowment for such performances.

About $500,000 remains in the endowment, which was established in 1981. The foundation board typically provides $20,000 grants per year from the endowment for performances. Mr. Richardson said endowment funding was reconfigured to accommodate Symphony Syracuse performances.

"Because of the short period of time to plan for the fall, they decided to use half of the available funds this year, so they allocated $5,000 at this point for the Orchestra of Northern New York to do a performance in October," he said.

The Oct. 23 Fall Gala Concert: Russian Tales at the Dulles State Office Building will feature music from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Rimsky-Korsakov music based on The Arabian Knights.

Mr. Richardson said another $5,000 will be allocated for Symphony Syracuse to perform a Dec. 14 Holiday Pops concert at the Dulles State Office Building.

Mr. Richardson said board members are undecided as to what performances would be funded in 2012 with the remaining $10,000 allotment.

After that is decided, he said, the board will look into putting a process in place to decide what performances would be funded and how they'd be funded.