Nittany Valley Symphony celebrates songbook American of styles March 19 in Eisenhower Auditorium

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Wednesday, March 4)— The Nittany Valley Symphony will celebrate styles and genres that define the collective sound of the United States with the program “America at 250.” The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

“This program has a little bit of something for everyone. That is the beauty of American music: It is a mix of many different styles and genres,” said Nittany Valley Symphony Music Director and Conductor Timothy Farrand. “From jazz to popular song, from Broadway to Hollywood, this program highlights the many corners of our diverse musical culture in this country.”

Tickets are $29 for an adult, and $9 for students and those younger than 18. Tickets are available for purchase online. Tickets are also available at the Arts Ticket Center by calling the at 814-863-0255 or in person, weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Eisenhower Auditorium. The Arts Ticket Center is part of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, a unit of the College of Arts and Architecture.

Call 814-231-8224 or visit “America at 250” online for more information.

Parking is $5.60 per vehicle when reserved in advance, or $10 starting at midnight on the day of the performance. Visit Parking online for more details about parking and to make a reservation.

A man with glasses stands and waves a conductor's baton. — “American music has never been defined by a single tradition, but by a vibrant blend of styles and art forms,” Nittany Valley Symphony Music Director and Conductor Timothy Farrand said. “I created ‘America at 250’ to celebrate, in this anniversary year, the remarkable range of composers and genres in the 20th century that have defined American music.”
**Credit:** Photo provided

About ‘America at 250’

The Nittany Valley Symphony’s spring concert celebrates the contributions of American composers that came to define the country’s collective sound.

“American music has never been defined by a single tradition, but by a vibrant blend of styles and art forms,” Farrand said. “I created ‘America at 250’ to celebrate, in this anniversary year, the remarkable range of composers and genres in the 20th century that have defined American music.”

The “America at 250” program will include:

Selections from the songbooks of Cole Porter and Irving Berlin
“Poem” (1944), William Grant Still
Highlights from “Jurassic Park,” John Williams, arr. Calvin Custer
“On the Waterfront” Symphonic Suite (1955), Leonard Bernstein
“Candide” Overture, Bernstein

If the names of the composers aren’t familiar, remember your reaction to hearing “God Bless America” or “White Christmas,” and watching “Jurassic Park,” “Maestro” or “On the Waterfront.”

“I think it will appeal to those that regularly attend symphonic concerts, as well as those who might be familiar with some of the music but have not attended a live orchestral event,” Farrand said.

For fans of

Classic and popular film soundtracks

Soaring and visceral symphonic music

Gilded Age ragtime and jazz

Broadway and musical theater

About the Nittany Valley Symphony

The orchestra is under the direction of Timothy Farrand with executive director Rebecca Richards. Established in 1967 as a nonprofit organization, the Nittany Valley Symphony is committed to inspiring and enriching State College’s diverse community through live concerts of the highest caliber symphonic music performed by professional and amateur musicians.

“As we approach our 60th anniversary season, we have been deeply moved by the support from our community, whose enthusiasm sustains our work,” said Richards, who was named the organization’s executive director in June 2025. “I look forward to sharing the power and beauty of ‘America at 250’ — a program that promises to celebrate both our nation’s story and its musical history.”

A diverse group of musicians sit in chairs and play string instruments. — Established in 1967 as a nonprofit organization, the Nittany Valley Symphony is committed to inspiring and enriching State College’s diverse community through live concerts of the highest caliber symphonic music performed by professional and amateur musicians.
**Credit:** Photo provided

Parking details

Parking is $5.60 per vehicle when reserved in advance or $10 starting at midnight on the day of the performance. You can make a reservation until 10 a.m. on the day of the performance or until reservations have sold out. Parking is assigned for a deck near the event and will be searchable by that event.

Visit ParkWhiz online to reserve parking. Visit Parking online for more details about parking.

Accessibility services

Patrons with limited mobility may be dropped off in front of Eisenhower Auditorium at the Eisenhower Road pull-off near the intersection with Shortlidge Road. A wheelchair is available to assist patrons from the drop-off area to their seats by calling 814‑863‑2335 upon arrival.

ADA-accessible parking spaces are available on all levels of the Eisenhower deck and in the Yellow F surface lot across Eisenhower Road from the deck. ADA-accessible parking is also available in the lot between Eisenhower Road and Tyson Building. State-issued disability parking placards are required for access to the ADA-accessible parking spaces.

Eisenhower Auditorium is certified by KultureCity as a sensory-friendly venue. Upon request, patrons can visit a quiet space on the lounge level; or sign out a variety of items to accommodate your visit, including noise-reducing earmuffs, anti-strobe glasses, lap pads and fidget toys.

Visit Accessibility online to learn more about the services available at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Acknowledgments

Happy Valley Adventure Bureau sponsors the performance.

Find us

Email Nittany Valley Symphony Executive Director Rebecca Richards at ed@nvs.org to request an interview. Learn more at Nittany Valley Symphony