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Cape Symphony Wows Capacity Audience at Cape Cod National Seashore Founders’ Day Event

The Cape Symphony performs at Cape Cod National Seashore.
NPS Photo / K. Trudeau

For the fourth consecutive summer, Cape Symphony brought world-class music to the shores of Salt Pond at Cape Cod National Seashore. The collaborative partnership between the symphony and the national seashore is a legacy of the 2016 National Park Service Centennial, exploring intersections where culture, nature, music, art, beauty, and inspiration meet.

Over 1,500 seashore neighbors and visitors gathered with their picnic suppers on benches and lawns at the outdoor amphitheater for an artistic program that included a tribute to the US Cavalry protection of national parks, Broadway hits, film scores, heart-stirring patriotic tunes, and some Disney magic. Pre-concert lawn games with rangers were added this year to make the event more appealing to families. A color guard from the US Coast Guard presented our nation’s colors at the start of the program.

“The Symphony at the Seashore has become the Outer Cape’s ‘don’t miss’ event,” said Superintendent Brian Carlstrom. “Seashore staff are intimately involved in all aspects of planning and execution, from development of the artistic program and publicity, to site lighting, safety, transportation, and parking and guest management. It’s a tremendous team effort with a creative partner that invigorates us every August.”

The event is a rare opportunity for local residents and Cape Cod visitors to experience a free performance by the highly acclaimed Cape Symphony, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Jung-Ho Pak. The spectacular performance was made possible by generous funding from Friends of Cape Cod National Seashore, America’s National Park stores at the national seashore, and the Music Performance Trust Fund.

The Symphony at the Seashore is one of many performances held this summer at the amphitheater, which was rehabilitated in 2017. This season’s performers included bands, acoustic musicians, storytellers, and theater groups who find the outdoor setting an inspiring venue to present their works.

For more information, contact Sue Moynihan, Cape Cod National Seashore Chief of Interpretation and Cultural Resources Management, sue_moynihan@nps.gov.