Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Barbara announces 30th anniversary Music Fest lineup, new LED screens and expanded camera coverage
Summary
Barbara, president and CEO of the orchestra, outlined a five-concert 30th anniversary Music Fest — headlined by a July 3 'Celebrate America' with the Hartford Chorale and a July 31–Aug 1 'Electric Avenue' 1980s show — and described AV upgrades including two 8.5×11.5‑foot LED screens and four cameras.
Barbara, president and CEO of the orchestra, announced the Hartford Symphony’s lineup and technical upgrades for the 30th anniversary Music Fest during the Simsbury Center community presentation. The festival will include five main concerts and a surprise program, starting with a July 3 "Celebrate America" performance featuring the Hartford Chorale and a special narrator, La'Vitha Shuttaswap, reciting excerpts of the Emma Lazarus poem.
"This is the thirtieth anniversary of Taco Bell Music Fest," Barbara said, thanking organizers and sponsors and calling the partnership with local leaders indispensable to the festival's success. She listed additional headline concerts including "Color My World," a Chicago legacy program on July 17; a July 24 Eagles‑themed evening built around "7 Bridges"; and an 'Electric Avenue' 1980s experience scheduled for July 31–August 1.
Barbara also described planned audiovisual upgrades to improve sightlines and onstage presentation: two large LED video screens roughly 8.5 feet wide by 11.5 feet tall will be installed on either side of the stage, and the production will use three mounted venue cameras plus one staffed tripod camera to capture guest artists, the orchestra and audience shots. Organizers said they will mix live action with produced content such as sponsor acknowledgments and announcements to enhance the attendee experience.
The festival will include family‑friendly programming and multiple complementary events at The Meadows across the summer and fall. Organizers encouraged early ticket purchase, with one upcoming show reported to be "almost at 3,000 tickets sold." Barbara closed by inviting attendees to speak with symphony colleagues at the event for further details and thanked the community for supporting performing arts in the region.
Tickets, sponsor information and a survey for audience feedback were promoted via a QR code displayed during the presentation and on the event website.
