• Ticket Price
    Free
  • Duration
    1hr 30min
Yankee Doodle Pops

Yankee Doodle Pops

The Des Moines Symphony’s Yankee Doodle Pops is back! On Thursday, July 3, the Orchestra will take the stage for Iowa’s favorite Independence Day tradition, welcoming more than 100,000 Iowans to the Capitol grounds for the largest single-day concert event in the state. The evening opens with The Star-Spangled Banner, sung by the winner of the Symphony’s annual "Oh Say, Can You Sing?" competition. Then, Music Director and Conductor Joseph Giunta will lead the Des Moines Symphony in patriotic favorites, including the 1812 Overture and Stars & Stripes Forever, and Emmy Award winning guest vocalist Matthew Johnson will join the Orchestra for pops tunes by Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and more!  

The winner of the Des Moines Symphony’s annual "Oh Say, Can You Sing?" competition will open Yankee Doodle Pops with The Star-Spangled Banner. 

When: THU JUL 3 8:30 PM
Concert Prelude Performance: 6:30 PM 
Where: Iowa State Capitol, West Terrace

Event Sponsors

Media Partner

Yankee Doodle Pops supported in part by:

Yankee Doodle Pops Title Sponsors

Yankee Doodle Pops Premier Sponsors

Yankee Doodle Pops Supporting Sponsors

Yankee Doodle Pops Patron Sponsors

Yankee Doodle Pops Table Sponsors

  • Bankers Trust
  • NCMIC Group

Program

  • KEY / Arr. Damrosch The Star Spangled Banner
  • Traditional / Arr. Holcombe Armed Forces Salute
  • TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Overture
  • SOUSA The Stars & Stripes Forever

Performers

  • Joseph Giunta Conductor Bio
  • Matthew Johnson Vocalist Bio
Joseph Giunta

Joseph Giunta Conductor

One of America’s most distinguished, versatile and dynamic conductors, Joseph Giunta is a musician of international acclaim. He is recognized as an important American conductor for his innovative programming and for his compelling interpretations of traditional and new music. His musical depth combined with his boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm makes him one of the most respected and successful orchestra leaders in the United States.

Learn More About Maestro Giunta

Matthew Johnson

Matthew Johnson Vocalist

The multi-talented Matthew Johnson is an actor, singer, dancer, and musician who has performed with the likes of Pharrell, John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Childish Gambino, and Stevie Wonder. His musical theater roots were cultivated at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and through his mentor, Debbie Allen, who helped mold him into the triple threat performer he is today. Matthew has done vocal arrangements for the Grammy Awards as well as performed at the Emmys and the Billboard Awards.  He honed his skills as a vocal chameleon on some of the world's most watched television shows such as American Idol, The Voice, X Factor and Late Night with James Corden.  He’s shared the stage and studio with some of Hollywood’s biggest names including Kelly Clarkson, Sam Smith, Demi Lavato, and Jennifer Hudson. On the big screen, Matthew stars as Mack in Warner Brother’s “Christmas on the Square” starring Dolly Parton and Christine Baranski which won an Emmy Award in 2021.