President briefly conducts orchestra at Jamestown

President Bush took over conducting the Virginia Symphony Orchestra at Jamestown on Sunday afternoon. Conductor JoAnn Falletta, right, gladly gave the baton to the president. (Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot)

By Warren Fiske
The Virginian-Pilot

JAMESTOWN – He’s the president, he can do what he wants.

On Sunday, George Bush wanted to conduct a 400-piece symphony playing at the 400th anniversary celebration of the first permanent English settlement in America, at Jamestown.

Midway through a rousing rendition of “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” Bush took the baton from JoAnn Falletta, musical director of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

While the Anniversary Park crowd of several thousand roared, the president led the musicians for two minutes without a hitch.

Bush pointed to all sections of the orchestra, which included young musicians from around the country. He implored crescendos. His grin burst with pleasure.

“It was a complete surprise,” Falletta said later .

“I think it was a surprise to him, too.

“I wish you could have seen the expressions of everyone in the symphony, especially some of the young people.

“As soon as the music ended, they were all on their cell phones telling their parents they had been conducted by the president of the United States.”

Falletta said the commander in chief had a good ear.

“He was very musical,” she said. “He was cueing the brass; he was cueing the percussion. He kept the tempo going.”

The president’s spontaneous moments follow another recent episode in which he stole the spotlight from artists.

In late April, when African dancers and drum players entertained on the White House lawn in an event tied to Malaria Awareness Day, Bush joined the dancers and even played the drums.

On Sunday, the president offered himself as maestro after delivering a 10-minute keynote commemorating the Jamestown Settlement, calling it a “testament to the power of perseverance and determination.”

“From these humble beginnings, the pillars of a free society began to take hold,” Bush said.

“Private property rights encouraged ownership and free enterprise. The rule of law helped secure the rights of individuals. The creation of America’s first representative assembly ensured the consent of the people and gave Virginians a voice in their government.”

Although Bush made a only fleeting mention of Iraq, he linked the hardships the settlers encountered establishing democracy in America to the difficulties the United States has faced spreading democracy to other nations.

“As we celebrate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown to honor the beginnings of our democracy, it is a chance to renew our commitment to help others around the world realize the great blessings of liberty,” he said.

“America is proud to promote the expansion of democracy, and we must continue to stand with all those struggling to claim their freedom.

“The advance of freedom is the great story of our time, and new chapters are being written every day, from Georgia and Ukraine, to Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon, to Afghanistan and Iraq.

“From our own history, we know the path to democracy is long, and it’s hard. There are many challenges, and there are setbacks along the way. Yet we can have confidence in the outcome because we’ve seen freedom’s power to transform societies before.”

The president was accompanied by first lady Laura Bush, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, now chancellor of the College of William and Mary.

Bush began his speech with a light-hearted homage to Mother’s Day.

“This state is known as the Mother of Presidents, which reminds me: I need to call my mother today,” he said.

“And if you haven’t called your mother,” he told the crowd, “you better start dialing here after this ceremony.”

After the speech, Bush shook hands with a variety of politicians and Jamestown commemoration organizers who commanded stage seats behind the presidential podium.

Then he walked over to the symphony, compo sed of young and old musicians from every state and anchored by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

“He didn’t say anything,” Falletta said.

“He gave me a wink and made a little gesture like he wanted the baton. It was an unbelievable experience.”

Amid yet another crescendo, Bush handed back the baton, kissed Falletta on the head and was gone.