The Pioneer Band of Allentown and Brandywine Colonials Fife and Drum Corps present “America250 Concert,” 7 p.m. July 12, West Park, Allentown.

“As part of our nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration, the Pioneer Band recognizes the 250th anniversary by playing patriotic selections during all 16 of our summer concerts with this concert as the last featuring all patriotic music,” says Pioneer Band of Allentown Conductor Robert Billig, Jr.

“Audiences will enjoy the band’s performance of composer Jari Villanueva’s ‘American Revolutionary War Medley’ with familiar tunes, ‘Washington’s March at the Battle of Trenton,’ ‘The Girl I Left Behind Me,’ ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee,’ ‘The British Grenadiers’ and ‘Yankee Doodle.’”

As part of America’s Bicentennial celebration, “Operation Sail 1976” was the largest ever international gathering of tall sailing ships. This historic event occurred July 4, 1976, in New York City harbor for which composer Jay Chattaway wrote “Parade of the Tall Ships.”

“Morton Gould’s music is unique in its Americanism,” says Billig, adding, “Like much of his music, ‘American Salute’ creates a brilliant fantasy using only ‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home.’”

Additional selections include “At Dawn They Slept” by Jay Bocook, “The Light Eternal” by James Swearingen, “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin and “Armed Forces 72,” an arrangement of U.S. service songs, by Thomas Knox.

The Brandywine Colonials Fife and Drum Corps, led by Drum Major and Vice President Joshua Fink, perform several selections and provide insights into the uniforms and instruments of the colonial period.

“Our corps is honored to participate in the Pioneer Band concert at West Park as an added feature to celebrate the Semiquincentennial,” says Fink, adding, “Fife and Drum music is the musical heritage of America and exemplifies the very spirit of our country, especially in this 250th year.”

The concert closes with John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

“What better way to honor the patriots of 1776 than to include a fife and drum corps in this concert?” says Billig.

“Groups like this played such an important role in the war for independence and we are honored to have the Brandywine Colonials Fife and Drum Corps join us for this concert,” Billig says.

“America250 Concert,” Pioneer Band of Allentown, Brandywine Colonials Fife and Drum Corps, 7 p.m. July 12, West Park, 16th and Linden streets, Allentown. Free. Information: https://www.pioneerband.com/

Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra presents “Valley Vivaldi,” 7 p.m. July 19, Wesley Church, Bethlehem.

“Our second summer ‘Valley Vivaldi’ concert has something for everyone,” says Music Director and Concertmaster Simon Maurer.

Maurer opens the concert with two of the most expressive and difficult movements of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Sonata for Violin Solo No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003.” The “Grave” is emotional and deeply expressive while the “Fuga” showcases the virtuosity of the soloist by imposing upon the violinist a four-voice fugue typically written for keyboard.

Says Maurer, “The Bach works for violin solo are without a doubt some of the greatest music ever written for us violinists and it is not often that we hear them played, even though they are now part of every audition in every music college or conservatory in the United States and abroad. Therefore, I decided to start every concert this summer with some Bach for solo violin.”

The Sinfonia’s strings and harpsichord present the rich and exuberant three-movement “Concerto for Strings in D Major Op. 7 No. 1” by Tomaso Albinoni, published in 1715.

“The first half ends with another rarely heard gem, Leo’s ‘Cello Concerto in D minor, L.60,’ performed by cello soloist Noelle Casella,” says Maurer.

“Although primarily known for his operas and sacred music, Italian composer Leonardo Leo was a trained cellist who wrote very few works for solo cello.”

After intermission, the concert continues with Georg Philipp Telemann’s “Concerto for Four Violins, TWV 40:201” followed by Marcello Alessandro’s popular “Concerto for Oboe and Strings in D minor,” featuring oboe soloist Nobuo Kitagawa. It is said that Johann Sebastian Bach so enjoyed the work that he transcribed it for solo harpsichord.

The concert closes with Antonio Vivaldi’s energetic “Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, Op. 3 No. 8, RV 522,” featuring soloists Linda Kistler and Dana Allaband. The work is one of 12 concerti in Vivaldi’s collection, “L’estro armonico” (Op.3), which catapulted his reputation internationally.

“Valley Vivaldi,” Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, 7 p.m. July 19, Wesley Church, 2540 Center St., Bethlehem. Tickets: at the door; Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra office, 1524 W. Linden St., Allentown; 610-434-7811; https://www.pasinfonia.org/valley-vivaldi/

Auditions: Camerata Singers is holding auditions for the 2026-’27 season. Openings are available in all sections with a particular need for tenors and basses. Handel’s “Messiah” with orchestra will be presented Dec. 19 and 20. Information and to schedule an audition this summer: www.pacameratasingers.org

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com