Veteran Artist Program

Brian Castner is a non-fiction writer and former Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer. He is the author of "The Long Walk", an Amazon Best Book of 2012. The opera adaptation of “The Long Walk” will premiere at Opera Saratoga in July.

Paul Mooney is a Marine, a New Yorker, a writer and a filmmaker. Paul was in film school in Boston when he decided he wanted to serve and became an artillery officer in the Marine Corps. Paul is a now a veteran living in New York City and just premiered a new TV show called Vetted, among other projects.

Rosie Kay is a dancer, choreographer & director. Rosie joins us from the UK and will introduce us to her piece 5 Soldiers â€â€Å" The Body is the Frontline, currently touring with the group she formed, The Rosie Kay Dance Company. Rosie is an Artist in Residence at the University of Oxford and is using dance to connect with the British military.

BR McDonald introduces the VAP Podcast with segments from the first 5 episodes. He also talks about the success of the Veteran Artist Program and how this podcast came to life. Learn how BR grew up in Taiwan as a missionary kid, performed his whole life, earned a music degree and then enlisted in the Army. The VAP Podcast w/ BR McDonald is scheduled to launch on May 19th and will publish weekly interviews focused on veterans in the arts. Guests will include emerging artists and walk through their journey both in the military and in the arts. We will also talk to leading professionals, prominent personalities and well-known organizations focused on bridging the gap for veterans stepping into the creative arts community. Hear segments from the first 5 Guests: Paul Mooney, Marine and Filmmaker Brian Castner, Air Force EOD and Published Author Rosie Kay, UK-based Dancer and Choreographer Karen Courington, Air Force Pilot and Design Thinker John Lee Dumas, Army Officer, Entrepreneur and Podcaster