A musical tribute to America's veterans.

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. To many people, especially the nation’s thousands of combat veterans, this day, which has a history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.

In commemoration of this important holiday, Music Celebrations International, the American Veterans Center, and the United States Air Force, are pleased to sponsor and produce a unique Musical Tribute in our Nation’s Capital that honors veterans past and present who have sacrificed so much for the liberties we enjoy in our country. The setting for this commemoration is historically the Concert Hall at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is America’s living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, attracting millions of visitors each year to more than 2,000 performances, events, and exhibits. With its artistic affiliates, the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera, the Center is one of the nation’s busiest performing arts centers dedicated to providing world-class art, powerful education, and outstanding memorial experiences to the broadest possible constituency. On September 7, 2019, the Kennedy Center inaugurated the REACH, its first-ever major expansion, providing visitors with new opportunities to interact and engage with the Center as the nation’s premier nexus of arts, learning, and culture.

An uplifting and inspired program of patriotic music is selected each year by Dr. Craig Jessop, the Festival Artistic Director. Dr. Jessop is a former music director of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square; Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force music programs, where he served as director of the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants in Washington, D.C.; commander and conductor of the Band of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein, Germany; and commander and conductor of the Air Combat Command Heartland of America Band. Previous guest conductors have included Lt. Col. John Clanton, Col. Larry Lang, Col. (Ret.) Arnald Gabriel, and Weston Noble.

This year we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day sand the liberation of France.

“The National Memorial Day Choral Festival gave us the opportunity to sing meaningful music with singers from across the USA in our nation’s capital. Dr. Craig Jessop, in my opinion, was the perfect conductor for this festival – given his choral excellence, military background and ability to inspire and bring together musicians from all walks of life. The performance in the Kennedy Center is an experience that we will forever cherish.”

Peter Durow, Director of Choral Activities

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri