My View: How Many Versions Of The Star Spangled Banner Have You Heard – Not Like This One!

The New York Pop’s Concert for Courage opened with Maestro Reineke conducting the orchestra , Soldiers’ Chorus of The US Army Field Band, and also the audience, in a thrilling orchestration of The Star Spangled Banner.  You’ve never heard it at Ball Games of other events like the version that emanated from Carnegie Hall last night.  It was the start of an inspired evening constructed by music director/conductor Reineke to celebrate our country and it’s Veterans.  The sounds of the evening and Len Cariou’s reciting of the Gettysburg Address in front of the Pops will long ring in the ears of all who were there in the hall.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the Stern Auditorium as 3 war letters were read while the orchestra played Aaron Copland’s Letter from Home and when Len Cariou sang “I’ll Be Seeing You” arranged by Steven Reineke.

(For another article by Stephen & photos of this event go to Broadwayworld.com)

The Soldiers’ Chorus of The US Army Field Band

Len Cariou & SSG Heidi Ackerman

Eric Gabbard, June Freemanzon, Steven Reineke, Eda Sorokoff

Jamie deRoy, Colonel Jim Keene, Eda Sorokoff

Steven Reineke & Lee Roy Reams

The New York Pops After Party