The trumpet sounds: Veterans’ Home residents enjoy morning of music
OXFORD – It isn’t often that young trumpeter Cora VanKingsley has an opportunity to play in front of residents of the New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford.
The 12-year-old Sidney student leads a busy middle school life filled with school projects and homework. And what little free time she has left is typically tied up by her involvement with concert band, community band and the Sidney middle and high school jazz bands.
But every so often, VanKingsley - in concert with her trumpet instructor and mentor, a World War II veteran from Bainbridge named Joe Renton - still find an opportunity to play for some of the country’s finest.
VanKingsley and Renton took center stage at the Oxford Veterans’ Home once again Saturday to perform a series of trumpet solos and duets in front of a full house. Arrangements varied from the classical and jazz tunes of a more simple era, to the more timely hymns like “Amazing Grace” and collection of widely known folk songs, such as “Oh, Danny Boy” and “When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain.”
For VanKingsley, who aspires to one day becoming a professional trumpeter, it’s an honor, she said, albeit a bit nerve-racking to play in front of a crowd.
“I’m always nervous at first, but after I start playing, I feel OK. I feel great,” she added.
For the past three years, VanKingsley has taken trumpet lessons from Renton, and even taken up piano in the meantime. Despite his blurred sight and faded hearing (a constant reminder of the relentless cacophony of wartime), Renton and VanKingsley sit and play once every week - a ritual that’s become as much about coaching life lessons as it is about teaching music, said Renton.
“Most weeks, it’s Cora’s best part of the week,” mentioned Cora’s mother, Jean VanKingsley, an employee of the Veteran’s Home in Oxford. “Of course, he has such a positive attitude, how can you not want to see him each week?”
Cora VanKingsley is just one of many young people who have been impacted by working closely with Renton. He served as the army band leader during his five-year tenure in the military and has undoubtedly mentored scores of aspiring musicians over the decades, “From the 17-year-old innocents to the 30-year-old alcoholics while teaching in the army,” he said.
“I give Cora so much credit. She is such a joy and a lot of fun, and I know she will go on to teach so many others,” Renton added. “And that’s the way it should be, to be taught and then go on to teach others. That’s the cycle of music ... She will go on to meet a lot of great people and I think she’ll be surprised of what opportunities music brings her.”
Cora and Renton are already planning a return to the Veterans’ Home for a special Veterans’ Day performance in November.
The 12-year-old Sidney student leads a busy middle school life filled with school projects and homework. And what little free time she has left is typically tied up by her involvement with concert band, community band and the Sidney middle and high school jazz bands.
But every so often, VanKingsley - in concert with her trumpet instructor and mentor, a World War II veteran from Bainbridge named Joe Renton - still find an opportunity to play for some of the country’s finest.
VanKingsley and Renton took center stage at the Oxford Veterans’ Home once again Saturday to perform a series of trumpet solos and duets in front of a full house. Arrangements varied from the classical and jazz tunes of a more simple era, to the more timely hymns like “Amazing Grace” and collection of widely known folk songs, such as “Oh, Danny Boy” and “When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain.”
For VanKingsley, who aspires to one day becoming a professional trumpeter, it’s an honor, she said, albeit a bit nerve-racking to play in front of a crowd.
“I’m always nervous at first, but after I start playing, I feel OK. I feel great,” she added.
For the past three years, VanKingsley has taken trumpet lessons from Renton, and even taken up piano in the meantime. Despite his blurred sight and faded hearing (a constant reminder of the relentless cacophony of wartime), Renton and VanKingsley sit and play once every week - a ritual that’s become as much about coaching life lessons as it is about teaching music, said Renton.
“Most weeks, it’s Cora’s best part of the week,” mentioned Cora’s mother, Jean VanKingsley, an employee of the Veteran’s Home in Oxford. “Of course, he has such a positive attitude, how can you not want to see him each week?”
Cora VanKingsley is just one of many young people who have been impacted by working closely with Renton. He served as the army band leader during his five-year tenure in the military and has undoubtedly mentored scores of aspiring musicians over the decades, “From the 17-year-old innocents to the 30-year-old alcoholics while teaching in the army,” he said.
“I give Cora so much credit. She is such a joy and a lot of fun, and I know she will go on to teach so many others,” Renton added. “And that’s the way it should be, to be taught and then go on to teach others. That’s the cycle of music ... She will go on to meet a lot of great people and I think she’ll be surprised of what opportunities music brings her.”
Cora and Renton are already planning a return to the Veterans’ Home for a special Veterans’ Day performance in November.
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