Anthony Parnther celebrates America at 250 with The Philadelphia Orchestra, where his program showcases the world premiere of a new oratorio commissioned for the occasion from Peter Boyer and Mark Campbell (tonight, June 17), and California’s San Bernardino Symphony (June 20), where he is now concluding his seventh season as Music Director.

For his final appearance of 2025, Parnther joined The Philadelphia Orchestra for a program billed as “the most elegant New Year’s Eve celebration around.” Now, tonight, he returns to lead the world premiere of A Hundred Years On, a new oratorio about Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition by Grammy-nominated composer Peter Boyer and Pulitzer-winning librettist Mark Campbell. Commissioned to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this will feature vocal soloists Mary Dunleavy, Meredith Lustig, Eve Gigliotti, David Portillo, and Malcolm J. Merriweather with The Crossing chamber choir in a production by Emmy winner Tazewell Thompson. Parnther and the orchestra open their patriotic program with accounts of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by “March King” John Philip Sousa and Liberty Bell by Pulitzer Prize laureate Julia Wolfe (June 17).

The conductor continues honoring America at 250 three days later with California’s San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. Held outside under the stars, their family-friendly celebration of “America the Beautiful” concludes with Tchaikovsky’s beloved 1812 Overture, complete with a fireworks finale (June 20). Having signed a new three-year contract with the orchestra at the close of last season, Parnther also recently helped ensure the organization’s sustainability with a generous personal gift of $100,000.