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Imagine a veteran saluting you! The Battle Creek Symphony, joined by six local choirs, including the Olivet Chorale, at a concert to honor veterans, “American Veteran,” now knows what that feels like.
During the show on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at WK Kellogg Auditorium, Veteran Col. Frank Walker instructed all veterans in the audience to salute the symphony and singers as a thank-you for the performance.
A chorale member and a first-year student at The University of Olivet, Madi Cowhy said, “I felt really emotional,” when asked about being saluted by veterans. “I was happy we got to perform for them,” she said.
The Symphony Director reached out to Olivet Choir Director Joel Moore about the event. “I jumped at the opportunity for our students,” he said.
The 39 singers in the Olivet Chorale and five other local choirs performed three pieces with the symphony after joining them on the stage during the program’s intermission.
The Symphony played three pieces without the choirs, starting with a march for orchestras, “Strike up the Band,” by George Gershwin, followed by “The Colored Soldiers Who Died for Democracy” by William Grant Still which Battle Creek Symphony Maestra Anne Harrigan described as an “Incredibly Moving piece.”
The final piece before the intermission was “The Tender Land: Suite,” a piece that was set in the rural Midwest Great Depression.
During intermission, the Battle Creek Community Chorus, Harper Creek High School Honors Choir, Kellogg Choral Union, Lakeview High School Chamber Choir, Pennfield High School Choir, and The University of Olivet Chorale joined the symphony on stage.
The first piece they performed was “Armed Forces Salute,” arranged by Bob Lowden which combined the official songs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps and allowed veterans to stand when they heard their branch’s song.
Next, the symphony performed Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major Op. 55 (“Eroica”) by Ludwig Van Beethoven without the accompaniment of the choirs. As they performed the piece, a slideshow of pictures of local veterans taken by photographer Patrick Robertson played for the audience.
“Requiem for Soldier from Band of Brothers” by Michael Kamen followed. And the concert ended with the Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky.
A first-year student at the University of Olivet, Emily Clark, said that “Armed Forces Salute” was her favorite piece “I liked seeing everyone honor the veterans, It was nice to see them so proud.”
The Olivet Chloral’s next performance is the annual Vocal Arts Day Concert on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Olivet Congregational Church.
Written by Alisha Gahn
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