Fireworks light the sky above the Tennessee River at the conclusion of the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership’s Pops on the River Monday night, featuring the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra. Spectators sit in chairs on the terrace of the Hunter Museum of American Art to watch the fireworks from both the Lookouts and Pops on the River.Chattanooga Symphony & Opera executive director Molly Sasse thinks of the annual Pops on the River concert as akin to turkey on Thanksgiving — it’s a tradition.
“It only comes once a year,” she said. “I think if we played it every other week it would get very old, but it’s just special because it’s what everybody associates with the birthday of our country. I think the musicians get a bang out of playing it, and I know the audience loves it.”
Last year’s presentation in Coolidge Park was actually music director Kayoko Dan’s first time at the CSO podium, with the exception of her audition concert before being named music director.
“She wasn’t scheduled to do it,” said Sasse. “She stepped in for Bob (Bernhardt, music director emeritus) when he had (a conflict). That was her surprise unveiling.”
This year, after a successful first season with the CSO, Dan will once again be leading the concert, which will feature standard patriotic music.