Gunnison Middle School’s seventh- and eighth-grade musicians will celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s 250th anniversary with a special concert Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Western Colorado University.
The free, public concert begins at 6 p.m. in Taylor Hall, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Students will perform a mix of patriotic favorites and songs celebrating Colorado’s history and mountain heritage.
The program includes “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High,” “Colorado Trail,” “Pueblo (Land of Ancient Peoples),” “Cumbia!” and a medley honoring the branches of the U.S. military.
During the military medley, veterans and active-duty service members in attendance will be invited to stand when their branch of service is announced.
Colorado has two official state songs: “Where the Columbines Grow” by A.J. Flynn and “Rocky Mountain High” by Denver. Denver said the inspiration for his song came during a camping trip near Aspen, when he and his wife were captivated by the Perseid meteor shower. The experience inspired the lyric, “I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky.”
The concert also features “America the Beautiful,” inspired by Katharine Lee Bates’ visit to the summit of Pikes Peak in 1893. The sweeping views of the Colorado landscape moved Bates to write the poem that later became one of the nation’s best-known patriotic songs. After several revisions, the familiar version was established in 1913.
The concert offers a chance for the community to gather, celebrate Colorado and the nation’s history, and enjoy the musical talents of Gunnison’s young performers.
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