Fort Wayne Philharmonic Director Troy Webdell directs the orchestra during the Pops concert, Sunday, June 25, at Wawasee High School. Photos provided by Mark Knecht.

News Release

SYRACUSE — The storm that blew through the Syracuse region on Sunday caused the annual Patriotic Pops concert to be performed at the Wawasee High School Auditorium.

It didn’t damper the spirit of the more than 350 people who braved the weather to hear the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s tribute to the American Spirit.

It was a family fun time for all with a balloon artist, face painter and glow necklaces for children; Chautauqua distributed an American flag to all who attended.

The program was kicked off by North Webster’s Phil Metcalf who got the flag waving started, then introduced the honor guard from the Syracuse American Legion Post #223 with all standing while the orchestra played the “Star Spangled Banner.”

The Philharmonic, led by Director Troy Webdell, played patriotic favorites such as “Armed Forces Salute,” “1812 Overture,” “National Emblem March” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Other popular music included Leonard Bernstein’s “Theme from The Magnificent Seven,” John Williams’ “Selections from The Empire Strikes Back” and John Philip Sousa’s “Washington Post March.”

The audience joined in with hand-clapping for much of the music.

The annual Pops concert by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic is made possible from funding from Chautauqua-Wawasee, Kenneth & Lela Harkless Foundation, Elizabeth Hooley, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Floyd & Betty Lou Lancia, Judy Pursley, Steel Dynamics Foundation, Wawasee Property Owners Association, James & Kay Young and Al Zacher.