A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM - INDEPENDENCE DAY 2025

MONTEREY COUNTY POPS! – LIVE!!  FREE!!

Devendorf Park, Carmel – July 4, 2025

Music, Celebration, Community, Harmony

The Monterey County Pops! returns to the beautiful Devendorf Park in the extraordinary and charming Carmel by the Sea. Come and celebrate with the City of Carmel and Monterey County Pops! July 4, 2025, with their FREE, LIVE public concert of popular and patriotic music.

Estillo Eficiente

This year’s concert opens with a performance by Estillo Eficiente under the direction of Eliodoro Vallecillo (“Lolo”) setting a lively and beautiful tone for the day. Lolo has moved from starting as a local student musician with YOSAL to the professional career then onto the Monterey County Pops! to being well known in the regional Mexican world of music.

David Bruce Adams, Associate Conductor

Monterey County Pops! presents a full 40-piece orchestra that will delight audiences of all ages with an engaging and memorable program of popular and patriotic music -- under the skilled baton of the award-winning Dr. Carl Christensen, Conductor and Music Director of the Monterey County Pops! Joined by David Bruce Adams, Associate Conductor of the Monterey County Pops!

Dr. Carl Christensen July 4 Concert in Devendorf Park, Carmel Photos by John Castagna

The program will include: "Hoe Down" by Aaron Copland, "Fairest of the Fair" and "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa. Then “Fiesta" by Clifton Williams conducted by Associate Conductor, David Bruce Adams. Other selections will be the "Radetzsky March" by Johann Strauss, a medley of traditional American Songs titled "American Pageant" by Thomas Knox, “God Bless America" by Irving Berlin.

John Weed, featured soloist

The featured soloist will be Fiddler, John Wood, playing a special arrangement of American Fiddle tunes accompanied by Monterey County Pops!.  John Weed, fiddler for Molly’s Revenge and New World String Project, is a classically trained violinist who has spent the last 25 years immersed in various fiddle styles. John lived in Ireland in 2000 and taught fiddle workshops at the Flowing Tide International Music School in Doonbeg, County Clare. He has honed his skills since attending the Frankie Kennedy Winter School in Dunlewey, County Donegal where he studied with Ciaran O’Maonaigh and Dermot Mcloughlin. With an affinity for American fiddle styles, John explores the connections between Irish, Scottish, Swedish, and old-time fiddle.

Come early as the day begins with an open rehearsal by the MCP! Orchestra at 10:30 a.m. and then stay for the opening act by Estillo Eficiente at 1:00 p.m. and the concert begins at 2:00 p.m.

Dr. Carl Christensen July 4 Concert in Devendorf Park, Carmel Photos by John Castagna

Steve DeCarli, President of Monterey County Pops! will welcome the public to the fourth annual July 4 performance at Devendorf Park, Carmel, at 2:00 p.m. The program will open with the National Anthem and the Armed Forces Salute which honors each branch of the US Armed Forces by inviting veterans and active-duty members to stand and be recognized during the playing of their theme song.

The Monterey County Pops! mission is to connect, engage, and inspire by bringing our professional orchestra to perform free popular and patriotic music and educational programs, including under-served youth, to all of Monterey County in collaboration with civic leaders, cultural groups, schools, and community partners.

To learn more or to make a donation, visit www.montereycountypops.org

For Interviews:

Steve DeCarli, President - stevedecarli1@gmail.com

Doug Lee, Vice President - douglee381@gmail.com

Dr. Carl Christensen - carlc93906@aol.com