Heroes’ Voices is pleased to announce two performances of The Soldier’s Journey, a celebration of music and poetry exploring a variety of perspectives on war, peace and the soldier’s experience.
These events will feature an extraordinary ensemble of actors, musicians and veterans, including participants in Heroes’ Voices workshops:
In San Francisco, California: June 4, 3:00 PM
The General’s Residence at Fort Mason at Franklin and Bay
Tickets are $30-$50 at the Fort Mason Box Office. A limited number of vouchers for free VIP tickets are available for veterans at heroesvoices.org/freeforvets or call 415-484-9852.
In Manassas, Virginia: June 7, 7:30 PM
Hylton Performing Arts Center, George Mason University
Free admission, donations accepted
Whether or not you are able to attend either of these events, please consider sponsoring free tickets for veterans, available at the box office.
Our special guest artist in San Francisco will be Major General John Borling, author of Taps on the Walls, a collection of poems he secretly wrote over many years while a prisoner at “The Hanoi Hilton.”
These performances are the culminating events of the Heroes’ Voices National Veterans Poetry Contest, a cooperative venture between Heroes’ Voices and George Mason University. The four winning poems, selected from hundreds of entries we received from veterans across America, will be featured at both events, along with other selected poetry.
Both performances will also feature music, ranging from traditional folk to contemporary popular songs, including Richard Schidell’s Civil War song, “Arrowhead.”
VIP tickets for the San Francisco performance include admission to the VIP/Meet the Artists reception following the performance!
Thank you to our distinguished panel of advisors and judges:
- Keven Bellows – Poet and Teacher
- Major General John Borling – Poet
- Rick Davis – Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts, George Mason University
- Lawrence Ferlinghetti – Poet and Artist
- Alejandro Murguía – Poet Laureate of San Francisco
- Colonel David Rabb – Poet
- David Whyte – Poet and Philosopher
Heroes’ Voices has been sponsoring music and poetry workshops for veterans in a variety of settings since 2014. We will soon be publishing a limited-edition booklet of the best poems entered in the contest along with works created in our ongoing workshop program, such as this touching poem from Army veteran Tristan Carson:
The Past Cannot Change Our Song
The past cannot change my song
Neither should the dreams of the future
Sweep my tune awayFor my song is strongest
When I reside in today
No more hurrying and scurrying
Rushing down that road
Looking for someone
To fill in the missing yearsMy song is my strength
And in it I find a light
To guide me home
To the bright morning,
Free.
I look forward to seeing you at one of these performances!