~ from the Knoxville Opera
This concert is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, and Wes and Liz Stowers.
Knoxville Opera presents Knoxville Opera’s Voices of Valor, a special Veterans Day concert honoring the stories of those who have served, on Sunday, November 8, at 6 p.m. The free concert is presented in partnership with the Cathedral Concert Series at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The U.S. Army Chorus joins the evening as a featured performer. The program also brings together Knoxville Opera’s military chorus, Military Voices of East Tennessee (MVET), Knoxville Opera soloists and the Tennessee Wind Symphony for a celebration of service, sacrifice, resilience and hope through opera, American classics, patriotic favorites and choral music.
Knoxville Opera’s Voices of Valor is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and a Tennessee America 250 grant, as well as a gift from Wes and Liz Stowers. This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee administered by the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support opportunities across the country for Americans to experience and participate in the arts,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “As we celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary this year, it is a moment to recognize the important role the arts continue to play in our lives, communities, and heritage.”
“I am inspired by the excitement across the state to commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Ashley Howell, Executive Director of the Tennessee State Museum and Chair of the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. “This year will be filled with exhibitions, programs, festivals, and preservation of our local and state history. We hope that these projects inspire Tennesseans across the state to engage with the anniversary in 2026.”
“Voices of Valor is an opportunity to honor those who have served and to bring our community together through music,” said Jason Hardy, Knoxville Opera’s General Director and CEO. “Members of MVET share their voices, build connections, and remind us that their stories are an essential part of our community. We are honored to welcome the U.S. Army Chorus for this special evening and grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial and the Stowers family for making it possible to offer this concert at no cost.”
Tickets: Tickets are free but required. For tickets and more information, visit knoxvilleopera.org
About Knoxville Opera: Knoxville Opera has been the leading producer of professional opera in East Tennessee since 1978. KO’s mission is to create vocal and theatrical experiences that entertain, provoke, and console.
About the National Endowment for the Arts: Established by Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. To learn more, visit arts.gov.
About the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial: The Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial was legislatively established by Public Chapter 384 of the Tennessee General Assembly in 2019 to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and to recognize Tennessee’s integral role in that event and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future. For more information, visit www.tn250.com.
