TROY QUINN, MUSIC DIRECTOR DIGITAL PROGRAM
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Inside you’ll discover:
● Biographies of our Guest Artists, two serice members whose vocal performances are sure to inspire
● Concert Notes celebrating the history behind tonight’s program, musical works, and fun facts
● Two new Performance Series set to debut with our 2025-26 season
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Dear Friends,
Welcome to our Patriotic Pops Concert: Salute to the Greatest Generation. On behalf of The Venice Symphony, I’m so glad you’re here to share in what has become one of our most cherished traditions.
There’s something truly special about gathering under the stars at CoolToday Park, surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors, with the sound of live symphonic music filling the night air. Tonight is about more than music—it’s a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of the heroes who’ve shaped our nation.
We are especially honored to have the Community Foundation of Sarasota County as our presenting sponsor again this year. Their continued support helps make this unforgettable celebration possible.
This is our sixth year performing at CoolToday Park, and it continues to be the perfect home for this concert. From the welcoming atmosphere to the outstanding amenities and staff, it’s a place where great music and community spirit truly shine.
Thank you for joining us as we honor the Greatest Generation and celebrate the best of who we are as a nation. We hope tonight’s performance leaves you inspired, proud, and filled with unforgettable memories.
With warmest regards,
Christine Kasten, President/CEO The Venice Symphony
TROY QUINN, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Emmy-nominated conductor Troy Quinn has quickly established himself as one of his generation’s most versatile young artists. Lauded for his energetic and riveting, yet sensitive conducting, Quinn is in his seventh season as Music Director of the Venice Symphony in Florida. He is also in his eighth season as Music Director of the Owensboro Symphony in Kentucky and serves concurrently as the Pops Conductor of both the Santa Rosa Symphony in California and the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Quinn’s engagements have included performances with many prestigious orchestras in the United States, including the Boston Pops, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.
Equally at home in the pops and commercial world, Quinn has performed and recorded with some of the most popular artists of our time, including The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Barry Manilow, Lee Greenwood, Josh Groban, Jennifer Hudson, Michael Feinstein, Tower of Power, The Indigo Girls, and Nas. As an accomplished vocalist, Quinn has also collaborated with such prominent maestros as Helmuth Rilling, Carl St. Clair, and Dan Saunders of the Metropolitan Opera. In addition to his concert work, Quinn has worked extensively in the television and recording industry, earning an Emmy nomination for the PBS special A Night at the Oscars with the Owensboro Symphony. He has made appearances on such hit television shows as Fox’s GLEE, NBC’s The Voice, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno while recording on films like The Call of the Wild and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. He has also appeared at many of the world’s major music centers and at such famed venues as the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Tanglewood, where Quinn conducted the BUTI orchestra.
A native of Connecticut, Quinn pursued a bachelor of arts degree from Providence College where he was the recipient of the Leo S. Cannon award for superior achievement in the music field. He went on to earn his master’s degree with honors from the Manhattan School of Music, studying conducting with David Gilbert and voice with highly acclaimed Metropolitan Opera singer Mark Oswald. He completed his doctorate in conducting at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he studied with Larry Livingston and Jo-Michael Scheibe and was named the outstanding doctoral graduate of his class. Quinn has participated in numerous masterclasses as a conducting fellow, attending conducting institutes at the Royal Academy of Music, Eastman School of Music, and Bard Conservatory of Music. He has been mentored by such renowned conductors as Benjamin Zander, Neil Varon, and Leon Botstein. Quinn serves on the conducting faculty at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music and has previously served as a faculty member at Providence College.
Patriotic Pops: Salute to the Greatest Generation
May 24th, 2025 I 7:30pm
Troy Quinn, Music Director
Arr. Walter Damrosch Star Spangled Banner
Morton Gould American Salute
Max Steiner Casablanca Suite
Kenneth Alford Colonel Bogey March
Fishburne/Murtha A Tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen
Robbie Williams Straighten Up and Fly Right Vocal soloist: Jeremy Gaynor
Arr. Jim Kessler
Arr. Paul Murtha
Songs of the Soldier Vocal soloist: Jeremy Gaynor
I’ve Got the World On A String Vocal soloist: Jeremy Gaynor
Arr. Paul Murtha Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Jerry Goldsmith
Walters/Murtha
Arr. Jim Kessler
Arr. Jim Kessler
Faith Hill
Moreno/Kessler
The Generals Suite from MacArthur and Patton
Duty-Honor-Country
Narrator: Lieutenant General Retired Robert Caslen Jr.
Armed Forces Salute
Rosie the Riveter
Vocal soloist: Christal Rheams
There You’ll Be
Vocal soloist: Christal Rheams
World War 2 Medley
Vocal soloist: Christal Rheams
Today’s performance will be approximately 90 minutes in length.
MUSICIANS
M u SIC DIR e CT o R Troy Quinn
F IRST V I ol IN
Marcus Ratzenboeck
Concertmaster
Hannah Cho
Associate Concertmaster
Katherine Gilger
Assistant Concertmaster
Erik Berg
Karissa Ratzenboeck
Shawna Trost
Evgeny Komarnitskiy
Sergio Carleo
Emin Huseynov
Iryna Usova
Laura Jensen-Jenning
Sardor Djumaev
Se C o ND V I ol IN
Amy Rawstron Watson Principal
Wallace DePue
Assistant Principal
Rebecca Tozzie
Xiaomeng Ma
Jana Kaminsky
Brian Stuligross
Elena Komarnitskaia
Sansa Wang
Isabella Diaz
Nicole Rawley
V I ol A
Paul Reynolds Principal
Rafael Ramirez
Assistant Principal
Seongwoo Jeong
Audrey Naffe
Monica MacMichael
Roberto Henriquez
Yaniv Cohen
Teal Vickery
Cello
Susan Debronsky Principal
Nathaniel Taylor Assistant Principal
Anthony De Peña
Vivian Chang
Helen Lewis
Oliver Cole
Claire Burris
Joel Osinga
B ASS
Christopher Riley Principal
Trent Harper Assistant Principal
Jordan Nashman
Kevin Gallagher
Laura Miranda
Jonathan Ingram
Flu T e
Francesca Arnone Principal
Rene Miska
Allison Defrancesco
oB oe
Amy Collins Principal
Chanmi Kim
Antonio Urrutia
Cl ARIN e T
Asher Carlson Principal
M AST e R o F Ce R e M o NI e S Bryan Sherlock
Former Assistant Director “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band
Kelsey Castellanos
Michael Drapkin
B ASS oo N
Patrick Broder Principal
Javi Rodriguez
Ann Adair
C o NTRABASS oo N
Ann Adair
Ho RN
Joseph Lovinsky Principal
Chase DeCarlo
Margaret Dixon
Lisa Bontrager
Amber Dean
T R u MP e T
Kris Marshall Principal
Dave Dash
John Castleman
Ken McGee
Jeff Wooldridge
T R o MB o N e
Joe Offner Principal
Tom McNair
Teddy Arnold
BASS TR o MB o N e
Chris Lundquist
Tu BA
Joseph Alvarez Principal
T IMPANI
Julie Angelis Boehler Principal
Pe RC u SSI o N
Dana Kimble Principal
Al Lyman
Michael Woods
William Brown
Nick Bruno HARP
Giuseppina Ciarla Principal
K e YB o ARD
Judi Glover Principal
G u ITAR
Norm Johnson
BASS G u ITAR
Blake Eberhard
A lT o SAXo PH o N e
Pete Barenbregge
Len Pierro
T e N o R SAXo PH o N e
Kenny Anderson
Dave Winterhalter
BARIT o N e SAXo PH o N e
Tom Ellison
The Venice Symphony is a proud member of
GUEST ARTIST
Christal Rheams is a powerhouse vocalist whose journey began on the musical theater stages of Raleigh, North Carolina, at the age of six. Immersed in the world of performance from an early age, she honed her craft through both community and professional theater, studying voice and stage performance throughout her formative years under the mentorship of future Broadway stars. She sang professionally throughout her youth before dedicating 30 years to serving her country in the United States Army.
Her final military post was as the enlisted leader of the popular music ensemble for Pershing’s Own, The U.S. Army Band, where she helped shape performances that uplifted audiences around the world. A national audience may also recognize her as one-fourth of Voices of Service, the inspirational vocal group and Season 14 finalists on America’s Got Talent. The group continues to tour the country, using music as a tool for healing and spreading a powerful message of hope to military communities and beyond.
As a soloist, you can find Christal wherever the music takes her—whether gracing intimate jazz venues, inspiring on national stages, or lifting hearts with her unforgettable voice. She has shared the stage with musical legends including Brooks & Dunn, Wayne Newton, and Billy Ray Cyrus, always bringing a voice that heals, inspires, and connects every time she steps behind the mic.
GUEST ARTIST
Tampa, Florida native, Jeremy Gaynor discovered his musical ability as a gospel vocalist in his youth. His musical journey has seen him travel across multiple continents and through countless countries inspiring communities around the world through song. A 12-year veteran of the United States Army, Jeremy has held the distinct honor of performing for dignitaries such as the 44th and 45th Presidents of the United States, President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump. During his time as a U.S. Army soldier, Jeremy was awarded the honor of being the first ever male lead vocalist in the over 200-year history of the renowned United States Military Academy at West Point’s Band. While serving as lead vocalist and ambassador for the West Point Band, Jeremy became an ambassador for the U.S. Army as a whole as a contestant on NBC’s nationally televised reality singing competition, “The Voice,” 2015 season. His heartfelt and passionate approach to musical expression inspired a 4-Chair turn of the Voice coaches. As a national recording artist thereafter, Jeremy had the pleasure of working directly with super producers Ron Dante, who most notably is known for his work with American singer Barry Manilow and as the lead singing voice for the animated group “The Archies,” and Wirlie Morris, who is most notably known for his work with American singersongwriter Charlie Wilson.
With appearances at such venues as MetLife Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the Barclays Center, Belmont Park, and the American Legion, to name a few, combined with multiple national TV appearances, Jeremy’s voice has cumulatively inspired millions.
CONCERT NOTES
During World War II
Patriotic music played a powerful and multifaceted role during World War II and throughout American history, serving as a tool for unity, motivation, and morale. Music provided emotional connection across oceans—reminding service men and women of home, and helping families feel connected to their loved ones overseas.
Recruitment
Patriotic songs were used to encourage enlistment and support for the war effort. Government-backed music and radio shows often included pieces like “Over There” (revived from WWI), emphasizing duty and national pride. A proliferation of colorful and striking posters emerged as, in effect, the social media of the time during World War II. Perhaps the most iconic was the Uncle Sam poster, created during World War I, by James Montgomery Flagg and, due to its enduring popularity, it was used again with some minor modifications.
CONCERT NOTES
Recruitment posters were also designed for every branch of the armed services, as well as for encouraging men and women to support the war effort by working in various support services. Perhaps one of the most-recognized images may be “Rosie the Riveter”, originally a painting by Norman Rockwell, which was published on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post, May 29, 1943.
entertainment for Troops
The USO (United Service Organizations) organized concerts and performances by artists like Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, Marlene Dietrich and other Hollywood celebrities to entertain troops. Music was an essential part of military broadcasts (like Armed Forces Radio), helping soldiers cope with the stress of war. General George S. Patton, Jr. once gave Ms. Dietrich a pistol for protection in the event she was ever captured. She would carry that weapon with her for the rest of the war.
shoulders of 2nd Infantry Division soldiers on the troopship SS Monticello as they return to New York Harbor at war’s end.
Marlene Dietrich is hoisted onto the
The Andrews Sisters with Bing Crosby
The Glenn Miller Orchestra
CONCERT NOTES
uniting a Nation
Music became a shared language that cut across class and regional divides, reinforcing a sense of collective purpose. Patriotic anthems like “God Bless America” and “The Star Spangled Banner” were used to rally national support and symbolize American values.
In 1938, Irving Berlin felt it was time to revive “God Bless America” as a “peace song”, introduced on Armistice Day in 1938, sung by Kate Smith on her radio show. The song became her calling card.
WWI and Interwar Period
WWI introduced mass-distributed sheet music and phonograph records for songs like “Over There”, aligning pop music with patriotic messaging. Between wars, patriotic songs helped maintain a sense of national identity, especially during the Great Depression.
Post-WWII to Today
Patriotic music has evolved to reflect contemporary issues—Vietnam, 9/11, and modern conflicts —have all inspired music that supports troops or questions policy, showing patriotism in diverse forms.
“Ballad of the Green Berets”- Barry Sadler (1966) “Give Peace a Chance”- John Lennon (1969)
“Gimme Shelter”- The Rolling Stones (1969)
“What’s Going On”- Marvin Gaye (1971)
“God Bless the U.S.A.”- Lee Greenwood (1984)
