Musical selections will be nature-themed and feature guest vocalists Courtney Crouse and Kelly Holst
To cap three days of celebration, OKCPHIL will perform a variety of classic pieces for everyone to enjoy on the Love’s Travel Stops Stage on Sunday, September 29 beginning at 7 p.m. Many of the works to be performed during this free concert will be nature-themed including Lark Ascending by Vaughn Williams, Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky, and Firebird Finale, by Stravinsky.
“The OKCPHIL and Maestro Mickelthwate would like to welcome everyone out to the Grand Opening celebration of Scissortail Park when the OKCPHIL will perform a family-friendly night of wonderful music in the open air,” said Susan Webb, director of marketing and public relations for OKCPHIL. “We have an exciting program planned with several favorites including Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain. We look forward to sharing this grand opening experience, which we think everyone will enjoy, with our Oklahoma City community.”
Tracing its roots back to the city’s first professional orchestra in 1924, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic formed in 1988 under the musical direction of Joel Levine with the help of dedicated civic leaders and corporations. In 2018, Alexander Mickelthwate was named the second music director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.
Throughout the years, the orchestra has performed a diverse selection of music with many different stars. Guest artists have included Itzhak Perlman, Amy Grant, Yo Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Tony Bennett, Olivia Newton-John, Bebe Neuwirth, Sir James Galway, Chris Botti, Renee Fleming and most recently Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara, Pink Martini, and Ben Folds.
“I can’t think of a better way to conclude the Grand Opening weekend than sitting in the Park listening to the philharmonic playing,” said Maureen Heffernan, CEO and president of Scissortail Park Foundation. “We are fortunate to have such a world-class orchestra in our city dedicated to supporting the community in this way. Many of the selections are nature-themed and I think everyone will really enjoy hearing these pieces.”
The new Scissortail Park is in the heart of a revitalized downtown Oklahoma City. This public space is part of the MAPS 3 program that envisions a healthy and vibrant quality of life for our city while serving as an investment in the future. Every detail is designed for connection – with nature, neighbors and ourselves. It is a place for play, culture, celebration and inspiration.
Scissortail Park features a variety of engaging experiences within 70 urban acres ranging from ornamental gardens and woodlands, to a lake and boathouse, children’s playground, grand promenade, water features, outdoor roller rink, an enclosed dog park, interactive fountain and much more.
Designed by one of the foremost landscape architecture planning firms in the world, Hargreaves Associates, the Park is also a horticultural tapestry of native prairie grasses, lush flower gardens and tree-lined walkways. Together we have created something spectacular. For everyone.