Atlanta Symphony to Perform Free Summer Concerts in Piedmont Park, June 2014

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will return to Piedmont Park to perform three free concerts this summer as part of the Bank of America presents "Performance on the Promenade" concert series on June 12, 19, and 26, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.

The performances will take place on The Promenade at Piedmont Park - located in the northwest corner of the park. When the ASO performed at The Promenade in May 2013, it marked the Orchestra's first appearance in the park since 2007.

The first concert on June 12 will be led by guest conductor Gemma New and will feature bassist Xavier Foley -the first place laureate of the senior division of the 2014 Sphinx Competition and former member of the ASO's Talent Development Program- performing Bottesini's Double Bass Concerto No. 2. ASO Assistant Conductor Joseph Young will lead the second concert on June 19, which will include Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien and the Overture to Rossini's The Barber of Seville. The final concert, "An American Salute" on June 26, will also be led by Mr. Young.

The Atlanta Symphony's history at Piedmont Park dates back to its initial performances in 1976 with Robert Shaw. Since then, the ASO has performed more than 100 performances in the park, reaching hundreds of thousands of Atlantans through these free concerts.

"The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has a long and wonderful history of performing at Piedmont Park," said Atlanta Symphony Orchestra President & CEO Stanley E. Romanstein, Ph.D. "These free outdoor concerts are a beloved Atlanta tradition, and we are delighted to be returning to Piedmont Park again this year to bring these great, live musical experiences to our community."

"Last year's series was a tremendous success, and we are thrilled for the return of free ASO concerts in Piedmont Park," said Piedmont Park Conservancy Interim President and CEO Debbie McCown. "I can't think of a better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Piedmont Park Conservancy than enjoying beautiful music in Atlanta's most beloved greenspace!"

"What better way to kick off the summer than an ASO concert in Piedmont Park," said Geri Thomas, the Georgia state president of Bank of America. "The arts, in all forms, lend vitality to our city. We at Bank of America are proud to support the ASO and other arts and cultural organizations for the vital role they play in enriching our local communities, educating our families, celebrating the past and inspiring the future."

The first concert on Thursday, June 12, will feature guest conductor Gemma New, the Associate Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, leading the Orchestra in Sibelius's Finlandia, Greig's Peter Gynt Suite, Kodály's Dances of Galánta, and Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture. The program will also feature bassist Xavier Foley -the first place laureate of the senior division of the 2014 Sphinx Competition and a former member of the ASO's Talent Development Program- who will perform Bottesini's Double Bass Concerto No. 2.

On Thursday, June 19, ASO Assistant Conductor Joseph Young will lead the Orchestra in the Overture to Rossini's The Barber of Seville, selections from Brahms's Hungarian Dances, Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, and Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 8.

Mr. Young will also lead the final concert, "An American Salute," on Thursday, June 26. The program will include selections from Copland's Rodeo, the Overture to Gershwin's Crazy Girl, the second movement of Dvo?ák's "New World" Symphony, Sousa's Washington Post March, and John Williams's Superman March, among other musical selections.

Admission is free to the general public, but tickets for general admission seating are required. Tickets for the June 12 performance will be available on Friday, June 6, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.; tickets for the June 19 performance will be available on Friday, June 13, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.; tickets for the June 26 performance will be available on Friday, June 20, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. A maximum of six tickets per person per concert can be reserved online at aso.org. Tickets will only be available online.

Additional details are available at aso.org/piedmontpark.