A Musical Journey Through the Civil War
In Thinking of America Comes to the Redlands Bowl

Redlands, CA.- Tuesday, August 19, the Redlands Community Music Association is proud to present Robert Trentham’s “In Thinking of America.” “In Thinking of America” is the outgrowth of singer Robert Trentham’s own genealogical search of his family’s involvement in the American Civil War. Robert’s search for his own roots involved over two years of research and contacting relatives in fifteen states. He can count 30 soldiers on both sides of the Civil War on his family tree.

His personal search and investment into the creation of “In Thinking of America” makes the story a particularly compelling one that has been critically acclaimed. Many songs on his CD “Epitaph- A Collection of Civil War Songs” are heard on the Civil War Preservation Trust’s multimedia exhibit “The Civil War Explorer” at national and state parks throughout the country and on “The Civil War Experience,” a new reference CD-ROM developed by SouthPeak Interactive in conjunction with The History Channel and the Civil War Preservation Trust. “In Thinking of America” also debuted at the Gettysburg Civil War Heritage Festival.

Robert Trentham has sung with many regional theatre and opera companies including the Santa Fe Opera, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Light Opera Works of Chicago and the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players. In addition he has performed as a soloist for many concert halls including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and the Philadelphia Academy of Music.

In addition to the Bowl’s evening program, a Civil War encampment will be staged on the patio of the Lincoln Shrine from 1 – 7 p.m. prior to the concert. Civil War groups to participate in the encampment include; The Regiment of the 20th Main Volunteers, the 69th New York Infantry Volunteers, and the Ladies from the Sanitary Commission, a precursor of the American Red Cross. Bill Bell and Company will provide music and Lincoln presenters during the encampment.

In the afternoon prior to the concert, Robert Trentham will conduct the Children’s Festival Workshop entitled “A Musical History Lesson.” The workshop will begin at 3:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church at 2 W. Olive Ave. in Redlands.

This one thousand, nine hundred and fifty-ninth event at the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival will begin at 8:15 p.m. following the Community Sing at 7:20 led by Curtiss Allen, Sr., and accompanied by Kim Hoeptner. Ushers for the concert will be members of the San Bernardino Crossroads Rotary Club, ESRI and the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross. Larry Burgess will be the intermission speaker. The concert is being co-sponsored by Chicago Title.

All events of the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival are presented without an admission charge, with a free-will offering collected at intermission. The Redlands Bowl is located at 25 Grant Street in Redlands between Grant and Eureka Streets, just south of Brookside Avenue. For directions and more information, contact the office at 909/793-7316 or view the website at www.redlandsbowl.org

For information regarding the encampment at the Lincoln Shrine please call Richard Hanks at (909) 798-7632.