Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

St. John's University is set to mark the 25th anniversary of its Summer Concert on the Great Lawn, scheduled for Wednesday, August 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event will feature a selection of works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky performed by the Richmond County Orchestra (RCO), alongside a special performance by students from the Virtuoso Suzuki Academy of Mineola, NY.

The RCO has been active in the New York metropolitan area since 1998 and has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. This will be their second performance at St. John's following last year's debut.

The concert supports "Hearts on Fire: The Campaign for St. John’s," which aims to enhance the university through scholarships, academic excellence, and capital improvements. Alumni are invited to attend a pre-concert barbecue with summer food, wine, and beer.

“For 25 years, St. John’s Summer Concert has brought together alumni and the local community on our Great Lawn, together with a rich and diverse lineup of concerts and operas,” said Paul Lazauskas ’01CCPS ’08MBA, Associate Director, Office of Alumni Relations. “We are proud to celebrate this milestone with the Richmond County Orchestra. It promises to be a memorable evening of music and St. John’s spirit, all supporting our Hearts on Fire Campaign.”

This annual event offers an opportunity for community members to enjoy classical music in an outdoor setting at St. John's Great Lawn. Attendees should enter via Gate 8 at Utopia Parkway and 82nd Avenue before the start time and bring chairs or blankets for seating.

In case of bad weather, the concert will move indoors to the University's Little Theatre. Tickets for the alumni barbecue cost $30 per person but are free for Loughlin and McCallen society members; preregistration is required.