Mercy Health Music Under the Stars, presented by The Andersons, is the perfect evening of family, music, and entertainment. This year, patriotic music and tunes from around the world are among the featured selections in the 2017 version of a Toledo tradition at the Toledo Zoo Amphitheater.
Concerts by the Toledo Symphony Concert Band, part of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, will be at the Zoo’s Amphitheater Sunday evenings at 7:30 beginning July 9 and continuing throughout the month.
The themes for each concert are:
July 9: Hooray for the Red, White, and Blue
July 16: Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue
July 23: World Tour, 2017!
July 30: Made in America
“For more than 60 summers,” Zak Vassar, TSO President and CEO, said, “a dedicated group of corporate partners has banned together to provide this treasured family tradition for our community. We are grateful to our sponsors and community partners for their unwavering support and look forward to another fun concert series with the Toledo Symphony Concert Band.”
“By offering free family-oriented events for the public to enjoy,” said Jeffrey Dempsey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mercy Health-St. Vincent Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, “not one but two, local treasured gems, the music of the Toledo Symphony Concert Band at the venue of the Toledo Zoo not only enriches lives, it truly enhances the overall health and well-being of the community, Mercy Health is proud to be the title sponsor once again for this year’s Mercy Health Music Under the Stars concerts.”
Bruce Moss, Professor and Director of Bands at Bowling Green State University, will lead the Toledo Symphony Concert Band in the last three concerts of the series. Jason Stumbo, Chair of the Department of Music and Director of Bands at the University of Toledo, will conduct the first concert.
Masters of ceremonies will be Tony Geftos of WTVG (13ABC) for all concerts.
These events are free and open to the public. The Amphitheater opens for seating at 6:30 p.m. Parking is free for zoo members. For non-zoo members, parking is $7; $15 for buses and campers.
“The Toledo Zoo continues to host Music under the Stars each summer not only because it has become a beloved summertime tradition,” Shayla Moriarty, the Zoo’s Director of Communications, said, “but because it is free family fun for all ages to enjoy.”
The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) will be offering its “Music Under the Stars Shuttle” once again for those wishing to participate in the Park-N-Ride service. Patrons are to arrive at any TARTA Music Under the Stars Shuttle Park-N-Ride location at 6:30 p.m. for a direct round-trip ride to the Toledo Zoo’s Broadway entrance. Bus fare is $1.25 per person each way (60 cents for Seniors 65+ and Medicare card holders) and is payable before each trip to and from the Zoo. The shuttle will leave the Zoo 20 minutes after the end of each concert.
Music Under the Stars Shuttle Park-N-Ride locations are: Maumee-St. Luke’s Hospital, Sylvania-Centennial Terrace, Toledo-Miracle Mile Shopping Center, Toledo-Franklin Park Mall, and Waterville-Kroger.
“TARTA has offered the shuttle service for Music Under the Stars since 2012,” Steve Atkinson, TARTA Marketing Director, said. “As TARTA is a necessary community service, public transit allows safe and affordable access to work, school, and health care as well as arts and entertainment opportunities in the Toledo area. Regional transit removes barriers to provide personal mobility and enhance the lives of its citizens.”