Stadium of Fire will feature famous musical talent from Utah

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Provo, Utah – May 26, 2010 – America’s Freedom Festival is pleased to announce that several internationally-recognized Utah musicians will perform at Stadium of Fire on July 3^rd, including The 5 Browns, Jenny Oaks Baker and The Osmonds Second Generation. The Utah talent appearing this year, in addition to superstar headline performer Carrie Underwood, creates a diverse musical presentation beyond anything seen at previous Stadium of Fire events.

“For Stadium of Fire’s 30^th anniversary, we are going to celebrate the great musical talent that Utah continuously generates,” said Carl Bacon, senior executive producer of the event. “Utah is a national stronghold of world-class music, dance and entertainment, and we’re thrilled to have several of those notable performers with us for Stadium of Fire.”

The 5 Browns, a classical piano quintet consisting of five siblings from Utah, is one of the most celebrated and distinguished classical musical groups in the world. The quintet, consisting of Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae, became the first family of five siblings ever accepted simultaneously to the legendary Julliard School in New York City.

The 5 Browns performance will include selections from their latest best-selling album, In Hollywood, using five grand pianos at one time during Stadium of Fire, a rare and unique musical display. The famous group has previously released three albums that each went to No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s Classical Albums chart, and has garnered extensive coverage from media outlets like Oprah, 60 Minutes, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, Today and The View.

Jenny Oaks Baker, one of America’s most accomplished violinists, will also add a fresh, distinctive flavor to Stadium of Fire. Ms. Baker was born in Salt Lake City, earned a music degree from the Julliard School and has performed with symphony orchestras at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress and many other distinguished venues around the world. In 2005, she made her solo debut with Washington, D.C.’s National Symphony Orchestra, with whom she was first violinist for seven years.

Ms. Baker’s latest album, Then Sings My Soul, recently hit No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s Traditional Classical Albums chart. She has released nine albums since 1998 which have sold more than 150,000 copies, garnered numerous Pearl Awards and, in 2008, Ms. Baker was awarded the Governor’s Mansion Artists Award for Excellence in artistic expression by Governor John M. Huntsman, Jr.

The Osmonds Second Generation is a pop group of eight brothers, renowned in Utah and around the nation for their tight harmonies and family musical blend. The sons of Alan Osmond, the boys were given their start at a very young age by Bob Hope. The Osmonds Second Generation has spent the last 25 years traveling the globe performing in over 14 different countries.

In addition, all eight brothers in the pop group are Eagle Scouts. Their shared Boy Scout heritage is a fitting tribute as the Boy Scouts of America celebrates 100 years in 2010. In honor of the Boy Scouts Centennial, The Osmonds Second Generation will add an important musical component as Stadium of Fire hosts the largest Eagle Scout Court of Honor in history.

Additional acts occurring during Stadium of Fire include a performance by Southern Utah country music star Eric Dodge, a special choreographed performance by the Stadium of Fire Dancers and, of course, the headline concert performance by Grammy and CMA Award winning artist, Carrie Underwood. The largest land-based Independence Day fireworks show in America will bring Stadium of Fire to a close.

Though many Stadium of Fire seats sold out quickly within the first few days of announcing Carrie Underwood as headliner, a host of previously unavailable seats have just been released by the production team and are now available for purchase at stadiumoffire.com. Seats from all price ranges, from $30 to $120, are again open to the public.

Stadium of Fire will be televised to America’s troops and their families for the eighth consecutive year on American Forces Television Network. The telecast is donated to the military by Stadium of Fire organizers, America’s Freedom Foundation.

Carrie Underwood to headline 2010 Stadium of Fire

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Provo, Utah – February 27, 2010 – America’s Freedom Festival is pleased to announce that five-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood will officially headline  2010’s Stadium of Fire on Saturday July 3rd at Brigham Young University’s LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.

Underwood is a five-time Grammy Award winner, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the 2009 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and three-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner. Carrie Underwood has amassed more than 11 million in U.S. album sales since her debut CD in 2005, more than any other American Idol winner. Along the way, she has consistently broken new ground and became the first country artist in history to achieve eleven consecutive #1 singles.

“I am really excited about being invited to Stadium of Fire’s 30th anniversary celebration! Our country has a lot to celebrate this Independence Day, and I want to do my part to make it unforgettable,” said Carrie Underwood.

“We’re sure that this year’s Stadium of Fire will be seen by the biggest audience in our history, so we’re working hard to make it the most memorable,” said Carl Bacon, America’s Freedom Foundation trustee and senior executive producer of the event. “Carrie is a big part of that.”

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of Stadium of Fire in 2010, tickets will be available this year for as low as $30. Traditional elements of Stadium of Fire will continue and expand, including the spectacle of the Stadium of Fire dancers, a military flyover as only Stadium of Fire does them, and the largest Stadium fireworks show in America.  There will also be a special feature celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

For an unprecedented eighth consecutive year, the Pentagon has invited Stadium of Fire to televise the celebration to US military men and women and their families in more than 100 countries around the world.

“We have so many spectacular surprises planned for the 2010 Stadium Fire,” said Brett Walker, this year’s Freedom Festival president. “We’ve worked diligently to make it the greatest Independence Day celebration in the country and we’re confident it will be the most outstanding show Utahns and our guests from around the nation and world have seen in years.”

For the sixth consecutive year, the event will be created, produced and directed by the award-winning production team of Wayne Baruch and Chuck Gayton. “Each year they have set a higher standard of quality and excitement,” said Bacon.

Tickets for Stadium of Fire will go on sale to the general public on Friday morning, March 5th, at midnight and will be sold simultaneously online at www.stadiumoffire.com, www.byutickets.com and at the BYU Marriott Center ticket office in Provo. Members of the Freedom Festival’s email list will have the option to purchase tickets before the general public, so fans are encouraged to visit www.freedomfestival.org to sign up for advance ticket opportunities.

The Stadium of Fire event, now in its 30th year, is the initial creation of Alan Osmond, the original lead singer of The Osmonds. Over the years it has grown to become one of the United States’ premier patriotic celebrations, attracting an average attendance of 50,000 people.

Stadium of Fire is presented by America’s Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization supporting educational programs and events that promote freedom and democracy.

2010 Stadium of Fire to host largest Eagle Scout Court of Honor in BSA history

Monday, February 1st, 2010

In conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America’s centennial anniversary celebration in 2010, America’s Freedom Festival at Provo is delighted to sponsor the largest Eagle Scout Court of Honor in the 100 year history of the BSA at this year’s Stadium of Fire.

Over one hundred boys, chosen throughout Utah and the Western United States, will be honored for achieving their Eagle Scout Rank, the highest rank in Boy Scouting, and will receive the Eagle Scout Charge in a brief Centennial Eagle Court of Honor. Witnessed by approximately 50,000 people in LaVell Edwards Stadium, the Centennial Eagle Court of Honor will be a unique and rare event, unparalleled in the history of Scouting.

All Boy Scouts that earn their Eagle Scout Award between January 1 and June 1 of 2010 are eligible to apply to participate in the ceremony. Scouts should visit www.utahscouts.org/freedomfestival to complete an application. They must have completed their Eagle Scout requirements before applying online, including completion of their Board of Review. Those chosen to participate in the ceremony will be notified soon after applying.

“This is a special year for the Boy Scouts of America, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary,” said Carl Bacon, executive producer of the Stadium of Fire. “Because of our shared values with the BSA, we felt it would be special to have a segment during the Stadium of Fire honoring these Eagle Scouts. And we have some great surprises planned for the Scouts participating in the Court of Honor and for those watching inside the stadium.”

Dignitaries from the Boy Scouts of America will be present at the Court of Honor, including Tico Perez, National Commissioner for the BSA, and Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive for the BSA. Eagle Scouts throughout the stadium will also be recognized in history’s largest Eagle’s Nest, a tribute to all Eagle Scouts attending a Court of Honor.

Applications to participate in the Centennial Eagle Court of Honor will be accepted through June 1, 2010, or until all available spots are taken. Eagle Scouts involved in the special program may still hold a separate, private ceremony to celebrate their individual accomplishments.

Eagle Scouts taking part in the ceremony will receive a free ticket to enter the Stadium of Fire and will be seated together in a special section. Family members of the Scouts may purchase tickets at www.stadiumoffire.com when they become available, though family members will not sit with the Eagle Scouts during the Stadium of Fire.

The Centennial Eagle Court of Honor is organized by America’s Freedom Festival at Provo and the BSA’s Utah National Park Council, though Eagle Scouts in other councils are welcome to apply to participate. Involvement in the ceremony is subject to limited seating and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Success in America and the boy from Virginia

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

The origins of great success are often unpredictable, endangered and vulnerable to catastrophe. Yet in America, there exists an explicit decree to all citizens that true success, regardless of its improbability, is possible for all. It doesn’t matter who you are, what your past holds or how dim your future may appear.

Take the story of a young boy from Virginia, for example. His father was a mediocre businessman that owned relatively little. His mother grew up an orphan and was, at times, difficult to deal with. The young boy’s hopes for a formal education were dashed when his father died. Nobody had any expectations for him to grow up to be particularly successful or important.

But he was inspired by his half-brother, who took him hunting and fishing and told him stories of military adventures in far-away lands. The young boy was stirred to work hard and become a soldier, which he did, and would successfully lead the American forces to independence from Great Britain as General George Washington.

Our new blog will probably not leave as profound an effect upon this great nation as Washington did, but we want it to inspire. We want it to inform. And we want it to engage. In the upcoming months we’ll highlight patriotic stories, Freedom Festival event news and national current events relevant to our mission to celebrate, teach, honor and strengthen traditional American values.

Stay posted!