Omaha Symphony's Independece Day Fire Works Spectacular

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
Welcome in back to the show.On this a Wednesday that feels like a
Friday. On Independence Day, eveDay, Camry Songer here with you,
and we're always talking about some ofthe great things that are going on in
this community. And I don't knowif it's snuck up on you as stuck
up on me, for sure,And that's Independence Day and some of the

(00:23):
great festivities that you're going to beenjoying. And the backbone of the festivities
that you're going to be seeing isgoing to be with our friends at the
Omaha Symphony and joining us as partof a program this afternoon. Mark Champion
with the Omaha Symphony. Mark,first of all, thanks so much for
stopping in. Thanks for having me. I'm excited to talk about it.
Okay, well, how long haveyou been with the symphony? Do you

(00:44):
let me ask? Hi? Forsure, it's been just over a year
now. Okay, So you're kindof you're kind of getting into the calendar
and like what it looks like thisis my second Independence Day celebration, all
right, So we just got tostart like Independence Day is a huge day
on the calendar for so many people. You guys are really like I said,
the backbone of what people in downtownOmaha are going to be enjoying.
Last year, I know didn't necessarilygo exactly as planned because one of the

(01:07):
days you guys were going to bebusy doing some stuff, mother nature didn't
want to cooperate. What was thatlike? And how do you kind of
mess with that? Because I knowthat it's a huge day for people,
but you have to kind of beproactive and telling people, hey, you
know this isn't going to work onthis day. For sure. That was
something we really had to just rollwith the punches with. When that happened
on July fourth last year, wegot rained out and so we moved the

(01:32):
concert to July fifth, just thenext day. And I think that it
might have helped us out a littlebit because on the fourth, I think
a lot of people had plans.Maybe they couldn't make it for whatever reason,
but they were able to come outthe fifth. And so that's why
this year we're doing a concert onthe fourth and the fifth. From the

(01:52):
get go, we're ready to go. I love it, right, It's
just like, you know what,the fifth sounds like it could work too.
Yeah, and maybe somebody who con'tgo on one day can be there
the other day. And I knowthat there are some junkies out there like,
hey, I get two days ofAmerica, like let's go. Okay,
so take me through what we're gonnastart with. Let's start with tomorrow
Independence Day. I know this is, you know, your more traditional celebration

(02:14):
kind of thing. What is thatgoing to look like for people? And
how can they learn more about it? For sure? Our July fourth concert
features patriotic music, American composers,Broadway music, all that kind of good,
feel good stuff, and a giantfireworks show at the end of the
concert synchronized to the live music.It's going to be crazy. We got

(02:37):
music from John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, we have some singers coming to help
us, some from Broadway like MarkelReid and Kenisha Feliciano, along with local
vocal ensemble resonance, and that's goingto be just a whole lot of fun,
ending with fireworks, like I said. And then on July fifth,

(02:58):
we're coming back to the gene LakyMall to perform with Billy McGuigan, local
rock and role Player. We're gonnabe playing a bunch of classic rock hits.
You know and love like Hey Judeby the Beatles, Everybody wants to
Rule the World by Tears for Fearstwenty five or six to four by Chicago.
Oh yeah, a good one,A real good one. Yeah yeah,

(03:20):
I use that one on the showa lot. Yeah, So that
one is gonna be fun. Bothare free and open to everybody. There's
gonna be food trucks down there,there's gonna be playgrounds for the kids to
go play at, There's gonna beall sorts of stuff, and really there's
no reason you can't come exactly,and you can't talk about the money,
right because it's free. It's free. Yeah, the food trucks aren't free.

(03:43):
You have to pay for the foodin the truck. So I think
those guys would ask for money,but you guys aren't asking for money,
you know, Like, hey,come and enjoy America with us speaking with
Mark Champion with the Omaha Symphony whichtomorrow and the next day Thursday and Friday
going to be performing at the GeenLeahy Mal So what time do you guys
start? And I have to admitto you, you know, I didn't
get a chance to make it downthere for the full show I was there

(04:05):
for the first part of your programlast year and it was awesome. Right,
it was so full, So manypeople are like, this is where
I want to be. Absolutely,I could not believe the day after.
I mean, this was displaced andit was so full. But how do
you guys work through the choreography essentiallyof the music to the fireworks show?

(04:28):
And I know that you have fireworksprofessionals that are putting this thing on for
us down there, but man,I've heard nothing but incredible things about what
that's like to experience the music plusthe fireworks on top of that. How
do you guys kind of figure outwhat you're going to do through that time?
For sure, it's definitely a finedance that we have to do.
We have a great operations team thatmanages all fifty or so musicians, so

(04:53):
we put on the stage up there, and the Riverfront has been a really
great partner for us. We've workedwith them for the past two years now
and they are super willing to accommodateeverything we need to do and line up
the fireworks show and all this,and everyone is welcome to come save a
spot. I know you mentioned itwas pretty crowded starting in the afternoon before

(05:16):
the concerts, which both start ateight thirty pm, So feel free to
come on down early and save yourspot if you want. It's going to
be, like I said, abig production. Fireworks are crazy and the
sound of a full orchestra in thepark. I mean, you were there,
it's gonna blow your mind. Itis so cool. Are there fireworks

(05:38):
on the fifth? Or no fireworkson the fifth? No fireworks on the
fifth? Rock and roll? Allright? Awesome? Okay, So that
way we don't have people that arelike I showed up for fireworks on the
fifth. Why weren't there fireworks onthe fifth? Yeah? Yeah, yeah,
don't worry about that, unless,of course, mother Nature decides to
mess with us even more, whichyou guys don't usually have to worry about,
right, I mean, like you'rean inside kind of thing, and

(05:58):
the acoustics of the Hollands you're fantastic. How how it was pretty early you
guys called it. You guys haveto do a lot of setup outside to
kind of make it sound the wayyou want to out there, for sure.
Yeah, our team is already settingup right now. I was down
there this morning and they got microphoneseverywhere, chairs and music stands everywhere.

(06:19):
It's it is a really big deal. And the sound I'm no expert,
of course, but they get itto sound really good. And there's speakers
even halfway through the park, soeven if you end up further in the
back, it's going to sound reallygreat for you. And that performance pavilion
at the Gene laky Mal is goingto be lit up all well, so

(06:40):
you can see everything really well.It's going to be a spectacle no matter
where you are. Okay, sowe're speaking with Mark Champion, Almah Symphony
favorite. I mean, you're you'rein this, You're with the symphony.
So I don't know if it's afair thing to ask, because you know,
music is very highly subjective, eventhough I have very strong opinions about

(07:00):
them. But do you have afavorite kind of like patriotic song that kind
of just hits a little harder whenyou guys play it? And obviously last
year when you see it lined upwith fireworks, I'm sure maybe that makes
you feel a little certain way aboutit. But is there one that you're
just really excited to hear played tomorrow? Yeah, for sure. I think
the music of John Williams for me, is just so magical no matter what

(07:26):
piece it is, and it feelsso American in the sense that if you
are American, you've heard John Williams. Yeah, he's done pretty well for
himself. Yeah, and it's justso pervasive into pop culture that it just
it's going to be really special tosee. I think we're doing a piece

(07:46):
from the Cowboys. I believe itis so like a Western kind of jaunt.
That's going to be a lot offun. Isn't he know he's still
doing some stuff, isn't he like? I think so. Yeah, he's
like ninety or so. I'm prettysure he won a Grammy last year,
right, crazy man, the guy'sa machine. Yeah. Okay, So
so how about let's just like takea detour a little bit here to the

(08:11):
fifth because that's certainly very much upmy alley, playing you know, classic
rock tunes with a full symphony,which really that gets me going. You
got a song you're excited to hear, for sure? See what you got?
I mean, the whole set listgets me excited for sure. But
you don't have to spoil the wholecellist even though I'm curious. Yeah,

(08:33):
but is there which one do youthink people are You're excited for that,
you think people would really appreciate seeingit. These boots are made for walking
by Nancy Sinatra. Oh yeah,that that baseline, going down the baseline.
I'm really excited to see what wedo to make that really pop.
You know, did not expect thatneither. Yeah, I think that's going

(08:54):
to be really unique for sure.That is super cool. Okay, so
thirty both nights, fireworks tomorrow night, patriotic songs, very American with lining
up with the fireworks, and thenthe classic rock on the fifth. Then
what happens for the symphony. Thenwe are quiet for a little bit,

(09:16):
and then in September we're back inthe halland Center to start our twenty twenty
four to twenty five season. Andthis season I don't even know where to
start talking about it because there's somuch going on. But we're opening with
Rhapsody in Blue, which is anotherkind of quintessential American composition, and that's

(09:37):
going to be performed with Conrad Tao, a really talented pianist. And that
is September twenty second, twenty third, I want to say, and that's
part of our master Works program Sothat's the bigger classical stuff where we really
get to flex the muscles of theorchestra. And then after that, just
to showcase the variability that we have, we have Symphony of Illusions with Michael

(10:03):
Grandanetti. And Michael Grandanetti is likea world famous TV illusionist, So he's
doing he's cutting people in half,he's disappearing cards, pulling a rabbit out
of the hat, all that withthe symphony playing live in the background.
Oh yeah, So this year we'rereally going crazy, really trying to innovate

(10:26):
and bring a lot of new stuff, and you guys, every week is
different. Yeah, that's what I'mThat's what I'm saying. One day it'll
be classical, one day it'll bemagic, one day it'll be Pirates of
the Caribbean. Will be playing thescore of that movie while you're watching the
movie while you're watching. Yeah,I did that. I've seen I've seen
one of those of the Harry PotterYeah, you know, well, and
it's just like, oh, likeyou can't watch the movie the same half.

(10:50):
That's just it. It takes itup a level. Your calendar is
full of that stuff all season long, starting in September, you guys are
to earn this break. I cannotwait to see what's going on on the
fourth and the fifth. Definitely goingto get out for one of those two
days. Mark Champion with the OmahaSymphony. This is awesome. Can't wait
to chat with you guys again.Love what you guys do and have some

(11:13):
fun and hopefully mother nature can cooperatewith us this year. Oh yeah,
I think the forecast looks okay.So we're excited. Thanks for having me
absolutely, Omaha Symphony, super excitingstuff tomorrow and Friday. It's three forty
nine. We'll wrap up the hournext on news radio eleven ton Kfab.
Emery Songer on news Radio eleven tenKfab. If your dog has a problem

(11:43):
with fireworks, you'll want to hearfrom this PEP behavior experts say has a
few tips for you. Podcast linkmorning NewsPage kfab dot com. And are
there fireworks going on in the backof this? Yeah? How about that

(12:05):
for timing. I put this togetherand I don't even thinking about that,
but after Alma Symphony conversation, it'sperfect, right, Sure, I feel
good about it. It's a it'san aggressive move putting a some version of
the Battle Hymn of the Republic withlyrics and fireworks on the radio show as

(12:28):
a bumper. Yeah, I'm anaggressive guy when when the mood strikes.
Yeah, there you go, andthen it cuts out. Uh, it
was a poor edit. Whoever whoeveredited that together, not you though.
Yeah, guy needs to have astern talking. It was an aggressive edit.

(12:54):
That's what I was, you know. Let me tell you. That's
where my aggression shows in my Editsnothing like when the song's really going and

(13:16):
then it just cuts right Gosh.It's kind of like the chord in my
car right now that I hook upto listen to songs on my phone.
If you hit a little bump,that thing disengages with the phone and just
cuts right out. Always does itright at the height of the chorus.
Oh man, Yeah, that's funny. Well, the intention was good.

(13:39):
It's the thought that counts. Thanks. David emails in. Sorry. Remember
Larry called, and remember what Larrysaid. Second, Larry, Larry number
two, Larry number two. Hesaid that we haven't really had the same
government where we incorporated into some corporationin eighteen seventy one. Yeah, I

(14:00):
don't mean any disrespect. I'm justyou know I haven't heard that before.
Well, David emails in it says, I think Larry started hitting the sauce
a little early this holiday week,and it's good to see the sovereign citizens
are alive. And well it wasa restructuring of Washington, DC's government and
nothing more. Nothing to see here, is what David says. Yeah,
I mean, can we believe thatthough? If a shadow government's actually in

(14:20):
control of us? Did David endhis email by saying look away, Yeah,
to pay no attention to that manbehind the curtain. Yeah, I
think we know who's side David's on. Well, what do we do now
now that we've learned we are nolonger a sovereign and today and haven't been
for the last one hundred and fiftythree years? I think you just shrugged

(14:43):
your shoulders, you know, youknow, it's funny, you know so
much for a shadow government. Howdo we explain all the wars we've gotten
into since then? I mean,we've had a lot of conflicts. In
fact, I just saw a headlinetoday the US government is thinking about working
with the Taliban to try to takeout I's k It's like movie stuff right
there, Like us and the Talibanshouldn't be getting along. We shouldn't be

(15:05):
working together. Oh yeah, butmovie stuff. So you team up with
a with a with a noted enemyto take down an even worse enemy.
That's like the sequel, right,yeah, it's like Rocky three when Apollo
says he's gonna help Rocky try totake out mister t clubver Lang. Sorry.
Old rivals become friends. I don'tknow friends is the right term,
but colleagues, that's for sure.I'm watching Joe Biden's doing the Medal of

(15:28):
Honor ceremony. We've heard a lotfrom the campaign the last twenty four hours.
There's a report that says he's thinkingabout stepping down. There was a
report immediately thereafter that said no,no, Well I just also saw this.
Fifty six percent of registered voters thinkPresident Biden should drop out of a

(15:50):
race. And there was a pollthat was put together by Reuters and ipsos
asking respondents who would they like totake on Trump? And the only person
of the group that actually beat himin a head to head pole You'll never
guess this, guess You'll never guesswhich which possible replacement candidate Gavin Newsom nope,

(16:12):
nope, nope, Hunter Biden.Oh, come on, I don't
know. That wasn't right, JoeBiden? No, who are we talking?
Michelle Obama Oh okay, a hypotheticalmagic In this Reuter's IPSOS poll,
if she ran, she leads Trumpby eleven percentage points. So wow.

(16:33):
Anyway, Hey, Friday four comingup even though it's Wednesday. Coming up
next on news Ready eleven ten kfab