Honoring Veterans Through the Arts
Veterans Programs at Dr. Phillips Center & How to Get Involved
Honoring those who serve is part of what it means to live our vision of Arts For Every Life®. This November, Dr. Phillips Center joins the community in celebrating veterans through events and programs that combine joy and connection—reminding us of the power of the arts.
November 8, 2025 — City of Orlando Veterans Day Parade
Dr. Phillips Center is proudly participating in the City of Orlando’s annual Veterans Day Parade—a tradition that honors the courage, sacrifice and service of local veterans and active-duty military members.
This year’s parade theme, “Service to Our Nation,” recognizes the dedication of military service members past and present. We’re proud that our very own AdventHealth School of the Arts’ Quarter Notes will perform during the parade with a very special medley of songs for this meaningful community event.
November 12, 2025 — Community Giveback
As part of the community giveback initiative, Dr. Phillips Center welcomes 100 veterans from Camaraderie Foundation, Orange County Veterans Advisory Council and Team Red, White & Blue to experience Classic Albums Live: Thriller by Michael Jackson.
This unique theater experience includes a pre-show reception followed by tickets to the concert—an opportunity to relive the groundbreaking album that forever changed pop music. Classic Albums Live takes the greatest albums in history and recreates them live on stage, note for note, cut for cut.
Through the Community Giveback initiative, Dr. Phillips Center works with donors and partners to provide first-class cultural experiences for audiences throughout Central Florida. Each season, the initiative curates meaningful events designed to inspire, connect, and create shared experiences across the community.
This giveback is made possible through generous support by Hatalom Corporation, Lyft, Pabst Steinmetz Foundation, VyStar Foundation and the Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation.
Arts & Wellness Veterans Programming
Beyond November’s events, we remain committed to supporting veterans year-round through our Arts & Wellness Veterans program—a partnership with the Orlando VA Healthcare System.
Launched in 2024, the program began with a drum circle designed to foster creativity, connection and healing among veterans and caregivers. It has since grown to include choir, spoken word and improv theater, offering different ways to express and connect.
Most recently, veterans closed out the fall session at the Orlando VA Medical Center where they shared music, poetry and performances created during eight weeks of Arts & Wellness Workshops.
Class Offerings at Dr. Phillips Center & Orlando VA Medical Center
Spoken Word Poetry
Spoken word poetry is a form of creative expression that uses rhythm, storytelling and performance to share personal experiences, emotions, and ideas. It’s poetry brought to life that’s authentic, powerful and unique to each voice. No writing experience is needed!
Benefits of Spoken Word Poetry
Spoken word poetry allows participants to process emotions, find their voice and connect with others through shared stories. For veterans, it offers a meaningful way to express identity, build confidence and transform personal experiences into art that inspires healing and connection.
Drum Circle
A drum circle is a group experience where participants create rhythm together using hand drums. It’s a space for shared energy, connection, and the power of sound. No musical experience is needed!
Benefits of Participating in a Drum Circle
Drum circles promote relaxation, reduce stress, improve coordination, and boost mood through rhythmic movement and sound. For veterans, drumming can be especially grounding, helping to release tension, improve focus and foster a strong sense of community and belonging through teamwork and creative expression.
Choir
A choir brings participants together to sing in harmony by blending voices, energy and emotion through music. It’s about teamwork, joy, and the shared experience of making music as one. No singing experience is needed!
Benefits of Joining Choir:
Singing in a group boosts mood, lowers stress and strengthens feelings of connection and belonging. For veterans, choir offers a positive, uplifting space to build community, express emotion and find healing through the power of collective sound and shared purpose.
Improv
Improv (short for improvisation) is theater without a script, where creativity, teamwork and humor take center stage. Build scenes, tell stories and create characters on the fly. Bring your curiosity and willingness to laugh (a lot). No acting experience is needed!
Benefits of Improv
Improv is more than just fun--it’s connection in action. It builds confidence, boosts communication, lowers stress and strengthens social bonds. For veterans, it offers a unique way to reconnect with that team spirit, express yourself freely and rediscover joy in a supportive, upbeat environment.
How to Join an Arts & Wellness Class
All classes are free and offered at both Dr. Phillips Center and the Orlando VA Medical Center. These gatherings provide a welcoming space where veterans can express themselves, build community and experience the restorative power of the arts.
Additional sessions will continue in the spring. To sign up and learn more about upcoming programs, submit this form.
Generous support for the program is provided by Hatalom Corporation, Pabst Steinmetz Foundation, VyStar Foundation and Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation.