The Ozark Festival Orchestra, based in Monett, will conclude its 2022-23 season with its annual Marty Beckwith Memorial Pops in the Park concert, slated for April 16 at the Monett City Park Casino, located east of the park entrance at Highways 37 and 60.

The concert is a benefit for the orchestra to help raise funds to cover annual expenses.

Music Director Alexandra Kovatch has shaped “American Salute” with orchestral selections from American composers, folk music, pop songs and patriotic selections.

Major works will include the “Symphonic Sketches” by pioneering American composer George Whitefield Chadwick and recently rediscovered African American composer Florence Price with her “Adoration.” Suites of folk music will provide symphonic arrangements of songs such as “Billy Boy,” “Skip To My Lou,” “The Girl I Left Behind,” “Chester,” “Oh Susanna,” “Shenandoah” and Morton Gould’s variations on “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.” Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” is framed around “America the Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

In addition to the music, this concert event serves as a pie and ice cream benefit. Those attending will receive pie and ice cream for their admission.

The orchestra will also host a silent auction for arts lovers. Items available will include music-themed furniture and antiques, books, art prints, recordings and some unusual surprises.

Several specialty pies will be offered up in a live auction.

Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and the music will start at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door on a firstcome, first-served basis.

The concert is underwritten by the children of Marty Beckwith, longtime cellist and one of the founding members of the OFO, in her honor.

The OFO is a community orchestra composed of players from southwest Missouri and nearby towns, focusing primarily on classical music. The orchestra is supported by memberships, local foundations, ads in the orchestra program book and funds managed by the Monett Community Foundation.