Finger Lakes Opera tackles the human cost of war

By Julie Philipp, Megan Mack, Julie Williams

Published July 6, 2026 at 3:20 PM EDT

Four people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a woman front left has long blonde hair and is wearing eyeglasses, a light blue blazer and grey pants; a woman front right has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing a grey cardigan sweater, white button-down shirt; khaki pants and white sneakers; a man back left has short brown hair, a brown beard and is wearing eyeglasses and a white button-down with a light blue pattern; a man back right has short grey hair, a grey goatee and is wearing eyeglasses and a white and grey plaid button-down shirt.

1 of 2 — (foreground) Loni Wellman, (background) Brock Tjosvold and Tom Williams with guest host Julie Philipp on "Connections"

(foreground) Loni Wellman, (background) Brock Tjosvold and Tom Williams with guest host Julie Philipp on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Monday, July 6, 2026

Mari Tsuchiya / WXXI News

2 of 2 — cipullo[1]_headshot.JPG

Tom Cipullo

Provided

A woman with long blonde hair sits in front of a microphone in a radio talk studio and wears a light blue button-down shirt. — Julie Philipp

We explore a unique partnership between Finger Lakes Opera and the Veterans Outreach Center.

The organizations are teaming up to present "Glory Denied," an opera based on the experience of America's longest serving prisoner of war, Jim Thompson, and his family.

The July 19 performance will include a panel discussion about issues veterans face and how the community can support them, even if the war they engaged in was unpopular.

Our guests:

Tom Cipullo, composer of "Glory Denied"
Brock Tjosvold, head of music for Finger Lakes Opera and conductor for the July 19 performance
Loni Wellman, director of programs at the Veterans Outreach Center
Tom Williams, Vietnam veteran

For information on the July 19th performance of "Glory Denied," click here.