For its Veteran’s Day performance of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has provided free tickets to a group of Gold Star families—surviving families of members of the U.S. military service, who receive lapel pins that display a gold star symbolizing the sacrifice of the service member. Several musicians in the St. Louis Symphony are former service members, including Jeffrey Strong, who spent eight years in the President’s Own Marine Band and will speak before the concert. Other SLSO musicians who are former service members include Jennifer Nitchman (U.S. Army Field Band), Jonathan Reycraft (U.S. Naval Academy Band), and Brian Owens (U.S. Air Force Band and Air National Guard Band). After the concert, the Gold Star families will attend a private reception in Powell Hall’s Met Bar. SLSO musicians will also attend the reception to meet the Gold Star families. John Storgårds will conduct the concert, which also will feature music by Korngold and Ravel.
Posted November 8, 2017
