By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
With the Muensterberg Clock Tower looming large over them, some 60-plus members of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic delighted a large crowd scattered about the tower’s plaza Saturday night.
The musicians brought their Patriotic Pops program to Berne, helping local and area residents get an early start on the Fourth of July.
Adams Health Network (AHN) sponsored the event, as it had last year at this time in Decatur.
In fact, AHN CEO Scott Smith, in addressing the crowd, said that at last year’s performance, “we said we need to go to Berne.”
Berne Mayor Gregg Sprunger welcomed an audience spurred by ideal weather and the promise of great music.
Led by conductor Caleb Young, the musicians delivered patriotic favorites like the “Star Spangled Banner”, “God Bless America”, and “Stars and Stripes Forever”.
Pops songs from Star Wars and Indiana Jones also highlighted the hour and 20 -minute performance.
The energetic Young, a native of North Carolina, owns a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Indiana University. Young returned to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and to the Cleveland Ballet this year after conducting in Finland.
At one point in the performance, the music of all branches of the U.S. Armed Services was played, with Young calling all veterans to stand and be recognized. Needless to say, it was a popular idea with the large crowd.
Young wound up the show by going out into his audience to meet and greet numerous people.
The only misstep of the evening came about 10-15 minutes before the music began when the plaza’s splash pad came on, scattering people who were sitting on and around it.