Jason Phillips, a composer, organist and U.S. Army veteran, will present his “Service to Sanctuary” music program 3 p.m. Nov. 1 at First Congregational Church of Redlands, 2 W. Olive Ave.
The free program features Phillips’ compositions and musical performance, with his story about the war he fought, the wounds he endured and how music became a sanctuary that helped him heal, according to a news release.
The program also includes soprano Staci Dickens and the Calico Wind Quintet — Eileen Holt, flute; Rong-Huey Liu, oboe; Kathryn Nevin, clarinet; Jonathan Stehney, bassoon; and Rachel Berry, horn.
Phillips, who is a music educator and church musician, received a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Houston, master’s degrees in organ performance and composition from the University of Montana and a doctorate in composition from Arizona State University.
He has worked as the director of choirs and vocal studies at Blinn College in Texas and has served as the music director and principal organist at churches in four states.
Phillips served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2006 and was deployed for 18 months in 2003-04 to Iraq, where, as an Army journalist and photographer, he wrote about and photographed military police soldiers performing missions in Tikrit, Baghdad, Samarra and Fallujah.
By telling his story through word and music, he hopes to raise awareness of and build support for combat veterans, including those who were psychologically wounded, according to the news release.
His most recent orchestral work, “A Soldier’s Symphony,” is meant to draw attention to the accomplishments combat veterans are capable of despite the physical or psychological wounds they suffered in war, according to the news release.
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
