Dare to Declare will launch Masterworks 3: Made in America performance at Longwood Gardens in honor of America’s 250th anniversary
WEST CHESTER, PA — The Brandywine Valley Symphony’s season finale on June 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Open Air Theater of Longwood Gardens will begin with a powerful Dare to Declare reading of the Declaration of Independence, inviting concertgoers to join community leaders in reading the nation’s founding document aloud together. With an expected 1,000 participants, it will be the largest public reading of the Declaration in the region. Led by the Chester County Community Foundation, Dare to Declare is a countywide initiative encouraging residents and organizations to read the Declaration of Independence aloud during the nation’s 250th anniversary year. The project invites communities to experience the document as many people first did in 1776 – as a shared public reading – while reflecting on its meaning, its power, and the unfinished work of American democracy.
“This is exactly what Dare to Declare is meant to do – bring people together around these words in a public, memorable, and meaningful way,” said Karen Simmons, CEO of the Chester County Community Foundation. “To hear the Declaration read aloud with hundreds of others at Longwood Gardens will be a powerful way to mark this anniversary and reflect on what these ideals ask of us now.” The reading will take place at the start of the Brandywine Valley Symphony’s Masterworks 3: Made in America performance at Longwood Gardens. The final concert in their 2025/26 season will featuring the world premiere of An American Dream: A Symphonic Salute to America250, a newly commissioned work created by composer Aaron Fullan in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, along with music by John Williams, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Florence Price, Antonin Dvorak, and George Gershwin. Tickets are available now through the Brandywine Valley Symphony, with prices ranging from $20 for students and children to $65 for adults. Each ticket includes admission to Longwood Gardens for the day and the event is expected to sell out.
Community leaders will lead the reading, and concertgoers will be invited to read from handheld copies of the Declaration, to be provided on-site, creating a shared civic moment at one of the region’s most celebrated venues. The Community Foundation encourages those interested in attending to purchase tickets in advance and be part of this special America250 event.
Event Details What: Masterworks 3: Made in America concert by the Brandywine Valley Symphony, opening with a Dare to Declare community reading of the Declaration of Independence When: Thursday, June 25, 2026, Declaration reading at 7:30 p.m. concert begins after Where: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road Kennett Square, PA 19348 Tickets: https://bvsymphony.org/event/made-in-america/
About Dare to Declare Dare to Declare is a Chester County America250 initiative that invites communities to read the Declaration of Independence aloud in public settings throughout 2026. Through readings, discussions, and creative local events, it encourages people to reflect on the Declaration’s ideals, its contradictions, and its continuing relevance today. cccf250.org/daretodeclare/
About the Chester County Community Foundation The Chester County Community Foundation connects people who care with causes that matter, building philanthropic leadership to improve quality of life in Chester County and beyond. Through its America250 work, the Community Foundation is helping communities across the county mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with programs that inspire reflection, participation, and civic engagement. chescocf.org
About Brandywine Valley Symphony The Brandywine Valley Symphony brings vibrant, professional symphonic music to a region rich in history and artistic heritage. With a fresh and inclusive approach to classical and contemporary works, the Symphony creates an engaging, accessible environment where audiences of all backgrounds can experience the joy of live music. Through a robust, year-round concert series at premier venues, the Symphony, the only all-professional symphony in Chester County, continues to deliver first-class performances that educate, connect, and uplift the community. bvsymphony.org
Media Contact: Beth Krallis, Chief Marketing Officer & Philanthropy Planning Officer Chester County Community Foundation (484) 887-0467 bethk@chescocf.org