A wonderful tribute to United States Veterans is available online today and for the next 48 hours. The Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Chertock, presents an inspiring Veterans Day ceremony and concert, all performed and recorded for the streamed program using Covid-19 safety precautions.
The orchestra sent out this announcement: “No Town Square Celebration. No marching band. No traditional community luncheon. This year, Veterans Day will have a new look! But, it doesn’t mean we won’t be able to acknowledge or celebrate Veterans Day!”
The orchestra is joined by local Veterans, performing onstage in the orchestra and as soloists, as well as through narrative. You will hear moving stories, poems read by the students from EH Greene school as well as The Armed Forces Medley, Victory at Sea, God Bless America and other patriotic selections. It is funded by The City of Blue Ash.
One of the soloists is U.S. Navy veteran Jim Cannon, who performs Debussy’s “Clair de lune,” recorded live in his recent — and very impressive — piano recital in Werner Recital Hall for the master’s degree in piano performance at CCM.
During his career, Cannon flew the P-3 Orion, primarily an anti-submarine aircraft, in the 1980s.
During a three-year tour in a P-3 squadron, Cannon made two deployments, to Japan and Europe. He then joined the Navy’s Training Command as an instructor in flying the single-engine T-34. He was released from active duty and began flying for Delta in 1989, a 30-year career. He retired from the Navy Reserve in 1997.
You may recall a story I wrote for the Business Courier about Jim and Bert Nelson, his colleague at CCM, who is pursuing graduate studies in organ. His U.S. service record is also impressive:
Nelson began his Air Force career as an instructor, flying a Northrop T-38 Talon, a supersonic jet trainer. He then flew the F-4 Phantom fighter bomber, and spent time serving in South Korea. Upon his return to the U.S., he spent two years flying on the Thunderbird team. He was the advance pilot and narrator, coordinating the details and describing maneuvers during the show.
After leaving active duty, he brought his family to Ohio, where he entered the Air Force Reserve and worked on the General’s staff at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He began flying for Southwest in 1994, retiring last March.
Thank you to all Veterans for your service! Now, enjoy the show by clicking here, or visit bamso.org.
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