INWM Patriotic Concerts 2026
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, Inland Northwest Musicians will be presenting 2 concerts. Both of these concerts will feature "The Four Freedoms" a piece commissioned for the 250th anniversary.
Sunday, June 28, 2026
In Baker City, OR at 4:00pm in the Geiser-Pollman Park, Inland Northwest Musicians is the opener in a summer long series of live music performances sponsored by the Powder River Music Revue.
Saturday, July 4, 2026
In Pendleton, OR at 4:00pm in the Pendleton Convention Center in collaboration with 4th of July events. This performance is sponsored by the Umatilla County Commissioners
About Inland Northwest Musicians
Moving Music Since 1999
Inland Northwest Musicians was founded in 1999 by a group of instrumentalists and singers to create a unique arts organization. Our core values are what make our organization special, and we do everything in our power to uphold them.
Our core values include: Regional representation of our service area within our organization (Board members and volunteers), a focus on bringing performances to towns of every size, every concert being free admission, and supporting youth music education.
Our Ensembles
Inland Northwest Musicians is the collaboration of 3 different musical ensembles including: Inland Northwest Orchestra, Inland Northwest Chorale, and Willow Creek Symphony. Inland Northwest Orchestra is our premier symphonic ensemble featuring volunteer musicians who travel hundreds of miles to participate in performing the world's great orchestral literature across Southeast Washington and Northeastern Oregon. Inland Northwest Chorale is our vocal ensemble, also featuring volunteer musicians traveling across our service area to perform major choral works as well as joining with the orchestra for holiday offerings and special events. Finally, our preparatory symphony is Willow Creek Symphony. Willow Creek Symphony is a place for musicians of all skill levels to come together and learn, grow, and form bonds with other musicians. Willow Creek Symphony does annual Young People's Concerts in Hermiston, inviting grades 4-6 to introduce them to symphonic music and instruments.
Youth Music Education
Alongside our annual Young People's Concert in Hermiston, we also do a Young People's Concert in the Wallowa Valley for students in grades 4-6.
In the past, Inland Northwest Musicians has supported and taught many different string classes in different areas of our service region. We are planning to resume string classes in the Fall!
As well as these two youth activities, we also host an annual Young Artist Competition, in which musicians up to 25 compete to play a concert with the orchestra and cash awards.
About "The Four Freedoms" by Joseph Martin
Freedom of Speech
In 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a State of the Union Address, declaring that there are "Four Freedoms" that every citizen of the planet has a right to. These freedoms include: the Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and the Freedom from Fear.
Freedom of Worship
These words from FDR inspired Norman Rockwell to create these 4 famous paintings representing each of the four freedoms. These paintings promoted buying war bonds, and demonstrated each of the freedoms in practice.
Freedom from Want
Joseph Martin, the composer of "The Four Freedoms" took inspiration from Roosevelt and Rockwell and applied it to a commission to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The piece uses traditional American melodies and original melodies to convey the feelings of each of the freedoms
Freedom from Fear
Inland Northwest Musicians are so excited to perform this patriotic piece alongside the Lincoln Portrait, the Fanfare for the Common Man, This is My Country, America, and Stars and Stripes Forever. Please join us in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States in Baker City, Oregon or Pendleton, Oregon.
The Lincoln Portrait - Aaron Copland
"That this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth."
In 1942, Aaron Copland, American composer, was commissioned by conductor Andre Kostelanetz for something "eminent American". Copland took words from Abraham Lincoln's letters and speeches, including the Gettysburg Address, and set them to folk music of that time period to create a capsule of Americanism. For this performance of The Lincoln Portrait, we are having a very special and notable narrator. Former Oregon State Senator - Bill Hansell, a long-time supporter of Inland Northwest Musicians, will combine forces on the 4th of July to present this historical and patriotic piece.