World War II vet, prof joins event marking end of that war
Above: Richard Jessor at his home in Boulder. Boulder photo by Glenn Asakawa.
Richard Jessor, Boulder professor emeritus, to join Miami’s New World Symphony this weekend to be interviewed by historian James Holland
Next spring marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Holocaust, and Miami Beach’s New World Symphony is performing two concerts this weekend that will feature pre-concert interviews with Richard Jessor, a University of Colorado Boulder professor emeritus of behavioral science who fought with the U.S. Marines on the island of Iwo Jima.
Conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya and best-selling historian James Holland will team up for a commemorative concert honoring veterans and the “global sounds of resilience.”
The symphony characterized the event this way: “From the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima to the skies of the Tuskegee Airmen, explore the global fight for democracy through music that commemorates and reflects. Soprano Emily Magee makes her NWS debut in the pensive and poignant Four Last Songs.”
In pre-concert appearances on Saturday, Nov. 9, and Sunday, Nov. 10, Holland will interview Jessor about his experiences in the war.
Jessor, who will turn 100 this month, said the attempt to use music to illuminate “such deeply disturbing human experiences as war and the Holocaust is, to my mind, an admirable enterprise deserving support.”
Additionally, he said, the event should underscore the need for societies to do everything possible to avoid such calamities in the future. “And finally, perhaps, as one of the diminishing cohort of WWII combat veterans still alive, I feel a continuing responsibility to be a voice against the madness of wars.”
Jessor noted that the senior vice president for artistic planning and programs of the New World Symphony is Martin Sher, son of Boyce Sher and Daniel Sher, dean emeritus of Boulder’s College of Music.
Jessor met Martin Sher in July when he was visiting his parents in Boulder. At that meeting, Sher discussed his plan to devote the 2024-25 programs to commemorating the end of World War II and the Holocaust, and he wanted to present music that would provide an interesting and inspirational commentary.
Examples include Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony, written when the city was under siege, and the music for the film Saving Private Ryan, written by John Williams. Sher also wanted to learn more about Jessor’s combat experience as a Marine in the battle for Iwo Jima.
At the time, Sher was consulting with Holland, and . Later, Sher conceived the idea of the pre-concert interviews and asked Jessor to have those conversations with Holland in person. “Of course, I agreed,” Jessor said.
This are free to veterans. Saturday’s concert is available to stream live and will be available online after the performance. The streaming option is free to anyone with an email address who registers at . The full concert program is at .
Jessor’s pre-concert interview will not be streamed, however.
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