The Des Moines Symphony's 33rd Annual Yankee Doodle Pops

Joseph Giunta Conducting

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

Stacey Horst Emcee

Stacey Horst has been an integral leader of the KCCI 8 News team since 2005. She anchors the station's evening newscasts at 5, 6 & 10p, as well as the Sunday morning public affairs program, KCCI 8 News Close Up.

After growing up on a family farm near Wall Lake and attending the University of Iowa, Stacey's career took her to various locations, including: Sioux City, Ottumwa/Kirksville, Charlottesville, Virginia and Raleigh, North Carolina. Joining KCCI brought her home to central Iowa.

In her position as main anchor, Stacey sees herself as an advocate for Central Iowans, with access to ask questions of lawmakers & politicians that viewers want the answers to. In Stacey's work with Close Up, she covers issues from Washington, D.C. to the Iowa Statehouse, to Main Street.

Iowa's first in the nation Caucuses play a major role in Stacey's work at KCCI. In addition to anchoring extensive live coverage on Caucus night and explaining the results and process to viewers, Stacey has moderated primary debates for the 3rd Congressional District and the U.S. Senate. She has interviewed presidential candidates, members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, governors, lieutenant governors and various state lawmakers.

Recently, Stacey participated in an historic meeting at the White House. She was honored to be one of 15 journalists invited to attend dinner with the President and his advisors in the State Dining Room. The White House called it the "first of its kind" meeting between a sitting President and members of local television affiliates from across the country.

Other notable assignments include introducing Central Iowans to Stephen Colbert in an exclusive interview as he prepared to relaunch The Late Show in 2015. She also interviewed Katie Couric in 2006 as she was poised to be the first woman to solo anchor a network evening news show, the CBS Evening News.

Stacey graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in Journalism and Psychology. Prior to her time at KCCI, Stacey was recruited to launch a new 24 hour news channel in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she anchored their weeknight news. Her career has also included stints as a photographer, editor, producer, reporter and anchor at stations in Sioux City, Ottumwa/Kirksville, and Charlottesville, Virginia.

In her free time, Stacey enjoys baking recipes handed down from her grandmothers. Stacey and her husband enjoy hunting down the best burgers and steaks, traveling, and spending time with their "fur babies" Chunky Chicken and Velma.

Harry Smith Guest Narrator

One of television’s most distinguished journalists, Harry Smith has been a news anchor for more than 30 years. Before joining NBC News, he hosted the CBS News morning shows The Early Show and its predecessor CBS This Morning for 17 years. Harry Smith was named Correspondent, Rock Center with Brian Williams in July 2011. 

Smith served as a senior correspondent for CBS News and substitute anchors for the CBS Evening News, Face the Nation and CBS News Sunday Morning. He also hosted the A&E series Biography.

Smith began his broadcasting career at Denver radio stations KHOW and KIMN and Cincinnati radio station WLW (1973–81). From 1981-82, he worked for Denver's public television station, KRMA-TV. From 1982-85, he served as a reporter and anchor for KMGH-TV, the CBS affiliate in Denver. In 1986, Smith joined CBS News as a reporter and was named a correspondent in 1987.

He received his B.A. degree in Communications and Theater from Central College in Pella, Iowa. Smith lives in New York City with his wife, sportscaster Andrea Joyce, and their two sons.

Billy "B.WELL" Weathers Spoken Word Artist

Local hip-hop artist, humanitarian, and creator Billy “B.WELL” Weathers graduated from Simpson College in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Communications and a minor in Sports Administration. Upon graduation, Weathers began to surround himself with leaders, artists, creatives, and educators with unique and growing perspectives. These relationships added to his creativity and served as sounding resources as he began to embrace new ideas and create resources for his community. Before long, the name B.WELL grew with numerous sold out shows and his work in local schools.

Weathers was named the Des Moines Education Association Volunteer of the Year in April 2020, American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa’s Iowan of the year in July of 2020, Des Moines Register’s “People to Watch in 2021” in January 2021, Simpson College’s Recent Alumni Humanitarian Award in November 2021, and Business Record’s 40 Under 40 Award in April 2022 for his work in founding a local non-profit organization, the B.WELL Foundation.

The B.WELL Foundation strives to build stronger futures for youth and lift them to a place of prosperity and has invested over $100,000 into local schools since its inception in June 2020. As he continues to work with youth and facilitate events to give back, B.WELL hopes to ignite new ideas and light to the next generation along the way.

Des Moines Choral Society James Rodde, Director

In 1979, Marion A. Hall assembled a 250-member chorus to perform with the Des Moines Symphony at its inaugural concert in the new Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. Growing out of that ad hoc chorus, the Des Moines Choral Society, an auditioned choir of volunteer singers from throughout Central Iowa, has become a vital part of the Des Moines arts community. Under the artistic direction of Dr. James Rodde, the Society continues its 45-year tradition of musical excellence, repertoire development, educational outreach and collaborative community involvement. Each season the Choral Society performs Christmas with the Choral Society, a Celebration in Song: a collegiate invitational, and a spring Masterworks concert at St. Ambrose Cathedral in downtown Des Moines. In addition to a commitment to excellence, the Choral Society is also dedicated to making a permanent contribution to choral literature through the commissioning of new choral works from diverse composers such as Eric Whitacre, Ily Maniano, Elaine Hagenberg, and Marques Garrett. In 2021 the choir premiered Illuminare, Elaine Hagenberg’s first extended work, consisting of five movements for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra, and in 2023 performed it at Carnegie Hall.

Dr. James Rodde

Dr. James Rodde is the Moen-Hamilton Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Iowa State University, where he has overseen an active program of up to 400 undergraduate choristers. He conducts the Iowa State Singers, the Iowa Statesmen, and teaches courses in choral conducting and literature.

Choirs under his direction have toured internationally to critical acclaim and been honored with performances at 13 national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, and two national conferences of the National Collegiate Choral Organization. 

Under his leadership the Iowa State Singers were named the 2013 national winners of The American Prize, College/University Division. As a conducting mentor, one of his students won the 2005 ACDA National Undergraduate Conducting Competition in Los Angeles.

An active clinician, Dr. Rodde has led numerous festival ensembles, including divisional ACDA honor choirs and more than a dozen All-State choirs. Upon his arrival at Iowa State in 2000, he instituted the ISU Honor Choir, a highly select ensemble of high school students chosen annually through live auditions across the state.

Dr. Rodde also serves as Artistic Director of the Des Moines Choral Society, a post he has held since 2003. For over a decade he served ACDA as the North Central Repertoire and Standards Chair for Male Choirs, and he continues to edit and arrange choral music, with a number of published works.

A native of Minneapolis, Dr. Rodde received the bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Augsburg University and completed the M.A. and D.M.A. degrees in Choral Conducting at the University of Iowa. From 1985 to 2000 he served at the University of North Dakota, where he was honored with the Fine Arts Faculty Award for Teaching. His alma mater, Augsburg University, recently honored him with the Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his significant achievement in vocation and outstanding contribution to the community.

Iowa State Singers, Statesmen, and Alumni James Rodde, Director

The Iowa State Singers is Iowa State University’s most select choral ensemble. An undergraduate choir drawn from a campus of over 30,000 students, it is comprised of freshmen through seniors, approximately one half of them music majors. The group annually presents a five-concert season, which has included full-scale Madrigal Dinners and choral-orchestral masterworks. Recent performances include Carmina Burana,Messiah, Ein deutsches Requiem, and similar works. Concert tours have taken the Singers to Australia, Western Europe, Russia, China, Korea, the Baltics and most recently, Norway. Commissioning new compositions has been an integral part of the group’s tradition, having premiered compositions by Jake Runestad, Stacey Gibbs, René Clausen, Levente Gyöngyösi, and others. The choir has been honored to perform at regional and national conferences of the ACDA in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2025, and at the National Collegiate Choral Organization’s conferences in 2008 and 2011. In 2013 the Singers were named the national winners of The American Prize, College/University Chorus Division. This academic year includes local concerts with VOCES8, the Luther Nordic Choir, and the Des Moines Choral Society. It has performances in the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, New York City. The year will conclude performing the Mozart Requiem with ISU choir alumni.

Iowa National Guard Cannons

The Iowa National Guard is a state agency of Iowa, and a reserve component of the United States military. It is empowered to function under control of the Governor, as a State asset in times of emergency or natural disaster, or if needed to carry out limited actions during non-emergency situations.  The National Guard may also be called into federal service in response to a call by the President or Congress.

The headquarters of the Iowa National Guard reside in Johnston, Iowa. The Iowa National Guard includes both Army and Air components, providing a wide variety of professions for Soldiers and Airmen. Members of the Iowa National Guard receive the same training as their active duty counterparts, and serve across the state either through drilling status—on weekends, during annual training, or full-time through various programs.

The Iowa Army National Guard was originally formed in 1838. The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system. The 133d Infantry Regiment, formerly the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry, served as part of the 67th Infantry Brigade, 34th Division, during World War I. The 67th Infantry Brigade was disbanded in February 1919, but formed again in 1921, still as part of the 34th Division. From 1921 to 1942, it was part of the Guard in Iowa, comprising the 168th Infantry Regiment.

Weary Ramblers Americana Duo

Iowa Americana duo Weary Ramblers bring award-winning songwriting, masterful musicianship, and undeniable chemistry to the stage. Featuring singer-songwriter Chad Elliott and multi-instrumentalist Kathryn Severing Fox, the duo blends folk, roots, bluegrass, blues, and Americana influences into performances marked by tight harmonies, vivid storytelling, and rich acoustic textures.

Both artists bring accomplished individual careers to the collaboration. Elliott, hailed as “Iowa’s Renaissance man,” is a prolific songwriter, visual artist, and touring musician whose work has drawn comparisons to Woody Guthrie. Fox, a DownBeat award-winning artist and internationally touring violinist, has performed and recorded with artists including George Benson, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, and Joshua Bell. 

Since joining forces, Weary Ramblers have earned widespread acclaim, including honors from the International Acoustic Music Awards, the Iowa Blues Challenge, and the Josie Music Awards. Their recordings have topped the Roots Music Report Contemporary Folk charts, while their heartfelt songwriting and effortless musical connection have established them as one of Iowa’s standout acoustic acts. Whether performing intimate ballads, foot-stomping roots tunes, or harmony-rich originals, Weary Ramblers create music that is both deeply grounded and powerfully moving.