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    Throughout the month of June, Fayetteville residents have had the opportunity to be exposed to terrific music and support the arts all in one fell swoop. On Sunday, June 29, the last concert in the series will pay homage to our nation’s birth, as the N.C. Symphony takes to the Festival Park stage for a rousing concert whose encore is a fabulous fireworks display.
    The June concert series at Festival Park came into being through a joint partnership between the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, The Fayetteville Observer, the City of Fayetteville and Reed-Lallier Chevrolet. The impetus behind the concert series was Mike Lallier, long a patron of the arts.
    “Mike Lallier’s dream was that every Saturday in June, there would be a concert in the park,” said Bo Thorp, artistic director of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. The CFRT is one of of the local arts agencies that will benefit from the concert series. Last weekend, the cast of the latest show at the CFRT got together with the pianists from     The Keys Piano Bar, to make some beautiful music. Local arts groups receive the proceeds from the sell of concessions during the concerts, so the event becomes a win/win for both the community and the arts.
    “Mike Lallier has always been a patron of the arts in our community,” said Thorp. “He always is willing to help us out.”
    {mosimage}Thorp noted that for a number of years Lallier’s children were very active in community theatre, and even though they’ve moved on he continues to offer his support. “Mike has always been a great supporter of the theatre and of the arts in general,” she continued. “He’s a great citizen of our community.”
    The upcoming concert will include a little something to please the whole family. The symphony will perform a march, “Radetzky March,” written by Austrian composer Johann Strauss I. Although he is better known for his waltzes, the march is one of his most performed pieces. Movie buffs will thrill to the sounds of John Williams’ “Star Wars Suite.”  The collection of music, from all of the Star Wars movies, gains rave reviews wherever it is performed. Wrapping up the concert will a “Patriotic Overture,” which will set the tone for the spectacular fireworks show to follow.
    The June Concerts in the Park series is designed around and for families. Thorp noted, “This is a great opportunity for families to experience the arts without any cost to them. This series allows people to come to these artistic events and be exposed to a wide range of music.
    Keeping with the theme of family, grab your blanket or your chairs and pack up the family and head out to Festival Park at 8 p.m. for the symphony. But leave your four-legged family members at home, as no pets are allowed in the park, and leave your picnic baskets and coolers at home as well. Food, soft drinks, beer and wine will be available — and remember, all funds raised through the sell of these items goes to support the arts in our community.