Arizona PBS Presents “A Capitol Fourth” Live from Washington, D.C.

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The sky over the U.S. Capitol lit up by fireworks from the spectacular 2014 broadcast of “A Capitol Fourth.”

Photo credit: Courtesy of Fotosearch.com

PHOENIX – (June 22, 2015) Eight, Arizona PBS will celebrate America’s 239th birthday with the country’s most iconic Independence Day celebration — “A Capitol Fourth” — on July 4 at 7 and 8:30 p.m.

Music legend and Grammy Award-winner Barry Manilow will open the 35th annual broadcast with a patriotic medley that has not been performed since the reopening of the Statue of Liberty nearly 30 years ago.

Twenty television cameras will be stationed around the city, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the White House to provide at-home viewers with front-row seats to the largest fireworks display in the nation. U.S. troops serving around the world will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of this spectacular tradition live via the American Forces Network.

Joined by the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of acclaimed pop conductor Jack Everly, Manilow will perform many of his classic hit songs and a selection from his Grammy-nominated album, “Night Songs.” Broadcast live from the U.S. Capitol’s West Lawn, the festivities will also include musical performances by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Nicole Scherzinger; five-time Grammy Award nominee Hunter Hayes; vocal powerhouse Meghan Linsey of “The Voice”; master pianist Lang Lang; award-winning jazz vocalist Robert Davi; country superstars Alabama; Grammy Award winners KC and the Sunshine Band; and classical crossover Irish tenor Ronan Tynan.

Capping off America’s grandest birthday party will be a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky's “1812 Overture,” complete with live cannon fire provided by the U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and “A Capitol Fourth” tradition. The concert broadcast will come to a show-stopping conclusion as fireworks light up the sky over the Capitol.

Also participating in the event will be The Choral Arts Society of Washington, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, Members of the Armed Forces carrying the State and Territorial Flags, and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

The broadcast is made possible by grants from The Boeing Company, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Department of the Army, PBS and public television viewers nationwide.

About Capital Concerts                                                                                                           Capital Concerts is the production force behind two of television's longest-running and highest-rated live programs commemorating America's most important holidays. The “National Memorial Day Concert,” the nation's tribute to our men and women in uniform, and “A Capitol Fourth,” our country's biggest birthday party, have become American traditions that have consistently ranked among the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade. The holiday specials have been honored with over 70 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the National Education Association Award, the Aurora Award, the Christopher Award, the Communicator's Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer's Guild of America Award.

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