It's been a year of dramatic change for lifelong musician Janice Martin. A slender, almost delicate, woman with long blonde hair and a sweet, heart-shaped face, she's a world-renowned violinist, first and foremost, but she can also play her instrument hanging upside down in an aerial demonstration of strength and skill. Ordinarily that draws thousands of tourists to her show at the Americana Theatre on 76 Country Boulevard -- "the strip" in downtown Branson -- but covid-19 brought performances to a screeching halt.
Instead, Martin is finding her way onto the internet, where she now has a YouTube channel that includes both performances and interviews she's conducted with interesting and influential people.
"It's actually been wonderful for me," she says of her new world. "It's been a period of rebirth, really, writing songs and practicing in a way I couldn't do when I was in the middle of a season. I've been taking gymnastics and even working on an aerial cartwheel! I do get out -- I jog and go to the grocery store; I'm a firm believer in a strong immune system, so I juice and do my breathing exercises; and I have an attitude of gratitude as much as I can. God's in control, and we just have to roll with the punches."
Martin says she's turned to her military training to find the discipline she needs right now.
"I'm really proud of being an American and proud of my time as a veteran," she says. "I think that the lessons I learned in my time serving my country were about service to others and resilience and strength and that no matter what happens, you cope. I think my Army training has been so helpful, and I encourage all Army veterans to rely on our training and stay positive and moving forward in a spirit of camaraderie, not in fear."
Martin laughs when she recounts the story of how a Juilliard student without any military influence in her family wound up enlisting.
She had just begun to realize that she'd soon have to get a job that would allow her to repay her somewhat overwhelming student loans, she recalls, so when she saw a sign that said "Student Loan Repayment," she stopped to look -- only to find it was an Army recruiting center. She walked on, laughing, then turned around and went in. The soldier on duty had a good laugh, too, when she asked if there were violins in the Army. "I'll go look," she remembers him saying.
"He came back kind of white-faced and said, 'Not only do we have violins, but there's a job opening. Auditions are next week.'"
And that's how Martin became a violinist in Pershing's Own, the U.S. Army Band. Six months later, finished with school, she was assigned to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. -- where, she says, she learned to shoot an M-16 and went through the gas chamber, just like everybody else. "G.I. Janice," she jokes.
"Afterwards, I was stationed at Fort Myer in Washington, D.C., and performed in the Army Strolling Strings and Army Band," she explains. "We performed in places like the White House and State Department; I had to have a White House security clearance. I also toured a little bit at conventions with the Army Special Brass Quintet.
"I was surprised at how much I loved the military life," she adds. "I loved being part of a family. I loved the regiment of everything, and I loved that I still had freedom to do creative things within my job. I loved that people loved our music, and it felt like we really contributed to others."
Martin will honor veterans and welcome guests during a short schedule of shows in November, including one on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
"Our country wouldn't exist if it weren't for the men and women who risked their lives to defend our country," she says. "The least we can do is honor veterans in our shows."
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Janice Martin
WHEN — 2 p.m. Nov. 4; 10 a.m. Nov. 6; 2 p.m. Nov. 7; 2 p.m. Nov. 11; and 2 p.m. Nov. 18
WHERE — Americana Theatre, 2905 W. 76 Country Blvd. in Branson
COST — Adult tickets start at $34.48
INFO — americanatheatrebra…