AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL by Katherine Lee Bates. Professor Katherine Lee Bates was travelling in Colorado in 1893 and made her way to the top of Pike’s Peak, just outside of Colorado Springs. What she saw before her was so breath-taking that she was inspired to write, “All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse.” A writer and poet, Mrs. Bates immediately penned the poem that we have come to know as “America the Beautiful.” It was first published on the 4th of July in 1895 and set to music shortly thereafter by Silas G. Pratt. The final version we know was published in 1913. In its early years, it was sometimes sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne.”

There will be two concert performances, one at 2:00 pm and the other at 4:00 pm on July 4th!