Idina Menzel to Perform Star Spangled Banner for Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Kickoff with Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA

On Friday, July 4th the acclaimed vocal ensemble Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA will be adding their signature harmonies to the score of the most dazzling pyrotechnics as the 38th Annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks ignite the sky over New York City - Live from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Beginning with the score, the musical blueprint of the high-flying explosions will be a patriotic wonder. The 25 minute display will be choreographed to dynamic new arrangements of both classic patriotic favorites and new musical selections. Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA will be adding their voices to YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG by George M. Cohan, played by DIVA Jazz Orchestra with arrangement by Doug Katsaros; AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL by Samuel A. Ward & Katharine Lee Bates played by DIVA Jazz Orchestra with arrangement by Ryan Nowlin: MY HOME, with lyrics by William Schermerhorn and music arrangement by Doug Katsaros; THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER by John Stafford Smith and Francis Scott Key, sung by Idina Menzel, played by DIVA Jazz Orchestra with arrangement by Doug Katsaros and GOD BLESS AMERICA by Irving Berlin, played by DIVA Jazz Orchestra with arrangement by Nathan Kelly.

In honor of the 200th Anniversary of "The Star Spangled Banner," Broadway superstar and Tony Award winner Idina Menzel will inspire the entire nation with her heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem. Idina's spectacular version of "The Star Spangled Banner" featuring Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA will be available as a free limited time download from June 14th - July 5th on macys.com/fireworks.

Judith Clurman says, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! It is a great honor to participate in this fabulous event for our country. Working with Macys and all these wonderful arrangers and performing artists has been a most rewarding experience."

William Schermerhorn says, "Collaborating with choral director Judith Clurman and our terrific music arrangers throughout the creative development of Macy's 4th of July Fireworks score has been a thrilling experience," says Macy's creative director William Schermerhorn. "The challenge was to develop new choral arrangements of classic Americana favorites that would be vibrant and dynamic for the fireworks choreography and still touch the patriotic heart. It was a joy to hear those arrangements come to vivid life in the recording studio as performed by the DIVA Jazz Orchestra and the Essential Voices USA chorus. It's a gift Macy's is proud to share with the nation on its 238th birthday."

Set to deliver the nation's largest display of patriotic firepower and ready to dazzle more than 3 million spectators and millions more on television nationwide, Macy's Fireworks this year will be launched from barges positioned on the lower East River and from the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge.

For more information on the 38th annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks including public viewing entry points and spectator tips, please visit www.macys.com/fireworks or call the Macy's Fireworks Hotline at (212) 494-4495. For marine viewing information please call 212-494-5243.