WEST CHESTER, PA — Patriotic music and a special tribute to military veterans will take center stage at West Chester University as student musicians present Philadelphia Freedom, a free concert celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and recognizing those who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
The Wells School of Music will host the performance Monday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, bringing together the university’s Brass Ensemble and Trombone Choir for an evening of American musical favorites.
Directed by faculty members Daniel Cherry and Robert Skoniczin, the concert welcomes veterans, military families, students and residents throughout Chester County and the surrounding region.
American Music Takes Center Stage
The program features compositions associated with American history, national identity and popular culture, performed by student musicians on trumpets, trombones, horns, euphoniums, tubas and percussion.
Among the selections is John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare, a work composed for the centennial celebration of the Statue of Liberty, along with Morton Gould’s American Salute and America the Beautiful.
Audiences will also hear John Philip Sousa’s The Liberty Bell March, Edward Hoffman’s Between Heaven and Earth and Bill Conti’s Gonna Fly Now, the familiar theme from the Philadelphia-set film Rocky.
The WCU Trombone Choir will perform additional selections, contributing to a program that spans ceremonial music, concert repertoire and recognizable American melodies.
The concert is part of the university’s recognition of the nation’s semiquincentennial, connecting the anniversary with a public performance by its student musicians.
A Special Musical Tribute to Veterans
One of the evening’s central moments will come during Armed Forces Salute, arranged by Bob Lowden.
As the ensemble performs musical themes associated with the branches of the U.S. military, veterans in attendance will be invited to stand when their respective service branch is recognized.
The tribute offers an opportunity for the audience to acknowledge veterans and their contributions while sharing in a musical tradition familiar to many military families.
West Chester University is extending a special invitation to veterans and military families to attend the performance.
A Free Concert for the Community
The event offers residents an opportunity to experience live university-level musical performances without an admission charge.
For families, the combination of familiar melodies, brass instruments and a public tribute to veterans provides an accessible introduction to concert music.
The performance will also be available through the Wells School of Music’s livestream for those who cannot attend in person.
Event Details
- What: Philadelphia Freedom, a patriotic concert featuring West Chester University’s Brass Ensemble and Trombone Choir, directed by Daniel Cherry and Robert Skoniczin.
- When: Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High St., West Chester, PA 19383.
- Cost/Tickets: Free and open to the public.
- More Info: https://www.wcupa.edu/communications/newsroom/2026/11.05Brass.aspx
- Livestream: https://vimeo.com/wsom
By combining music associated with American history and culture with a tribute to military service, Philadelphia Freedom gives the Chester County community an opportunity to participate in the nation’s 250th anniversary observances.
The concert also provides a public stage for West Chester University’s student musicians while offering veterans and their families a dedicated moment of recognition.
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