Hickory – The Hickory Choral Society will conclude its 2025–2026 season with a pair of free outdoor concerts commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Performances will take place on Saturday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. in Morganton and Sunday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. in Hickory.
Built around Woody Guthrie’s well-known anthem “This Land Is Your Land,” the program will unfold in a series of musical “chapters” inspired by the song’s verses, and explore themes of freedom, journey, justice, and community. The singing will be accompanied by a live band, and the program will feature soloists and narrations.
Audience members will hear familiar standards, including “New York, New York”, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Nine to Five,” “Lean on Me,” as well as more recent hits, such as “You Will Be Found”, “The Story of Tonight,” “100 Years”, “Bless the Broken Road,” and “You Raise Me Up.” The concert will conclude with an arrangement that combines “This Land is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful”.
“The song ‘This Land is Your Land’ reminds us that the U.S. story is complex. The program will reflect on the beauty, challenges, and connections that define our community and country,” said Ryan Luhrs, Hickory Choral Society Artistic Director and Conductor, “We’re inviting the listener to consider the many voices and experiences that have shaped our shared history.”
We want to specifically thank the City of Hickory for their underwriting support of this concert: Without their support we could not provide performances like this.
Hickory Choral Society is a funded affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba.
The performances mark the culmination of a season-long exploration of U.S. composers and choral traditions. Presented outdoors, the concerts offer a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Rain Date: Saturday, May 23, 6:00pm – Downtown Hickory. Visit hickorychoralsociety.org for more information.
