Military Bands

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NBA Military/Professional Band Report – December 2017

by Maj. Daniel F. Toven

Maj. Daniel Toven recently assumed the duties of Deputy Commandant at the U.S. Army School of Music in Virginia Beach, VA after returning from an eight-month deployment to Kuwait, where he served as the Music Liaison Officer to U.S. Army Central. Prior to his Army career, Maj. Toven held various civilian music positions including, Music Director of the Plum Creek Chamber Orchestra and Assistant Director of The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

Throughout 2017, military bands continued to inspire audiences at home and abroad, provide ceremonial support to our national leaders and service members across the Department of Defense (DOD), and bolster the morale of troops at home and abroad. Military bands accomplished this while facing increased scrutiny from Congress and the Defense Department.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in August which took a detailed look at military bands and analyzed overall costs and personnel trends. The House of Representatives directed the study, ordering GAO to “review DOD’s requirement for military bands.” The report analyzed data from 2012 through 2016 and found that military bands decreased overall personnel by 7.5% during that time. The U.S. Air Force saw the greatest reduction with a 21.6% drop. The Army saw the lowest drop, 1.9%, over this period of time, however, the report does not take into account future personnel reductions scheduled to take place between 2017 and 2019. The cuts to the Army have largely been to the active force, with few losses taking place in the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard bands. When looking at only Active Army reductions and expanding the date range through 2019, Army reductions equal approximately 33%.

The recommendations of the GAO study largely centered on the need for the services to develop measurable objectives and performance measures for bands. The report found that currently no system exists to determine if or how well military bands are accomplishing their stated missions. GAO directed that the Secretaries of the respective services develop these measures, which should, at a minimum, “include the important attributes for successful performance measures of demonstrating linkage to the program’s mission.”

Prior to the report’s release, the Chief, Army Music formed a working group to develop more reliable measures of effectiveness and study how existing technology can facilitate enhanced data collection. The working group has partnered with various research departments at the U.S. Military Academy as well as with industry leaders such as Nielson Corporation to develop these methods. The results of the group’s efforts have already yielded notable results, and the methods used are being shared with the other services to support their efforts to comply with the recommendations in the GAO report. Also, as an outgrowth of these efforts, the U.S. Military Academy recently established the Music Research Center, which will carry on the efforts of the working group while being able to better leverage the resources of the Military Academy and partner with other arts organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts.

Spurred by Congressional scrutiny, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army directed Army Music to conduct a Bottom Up Review of the Army band program. This study, nearing completion, examined Army bands through various lenses including doctrine, organization, policy, and structure, and will make recommendations on changes to the Vice Chief early in 2018.

More information about the award, its namesake, and past awardees can be found at: www.bands.army.mil/hamiltonaward.

Following are highlights from 2017 from the services’ premier bands:

The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” provides musical support for the leadership of the United States, public diplomacy, community and international relations, and music education programs. In January, the Ceremonial Band and Herald Trumpets supported the 58th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. In their role as the official Presidential Escort, the Ceremonial Band led newly sworn-in President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump from the East side of the United States Capitol Building through the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Herald Trumpets performed a new fanfare entitled Triumphant Fanfare composed by “Pershing’s Own” staff arranger Master Sgt. Michael Brown specifically for the occasion. These ceremonial units continued the proud tradition of musical excellence during a peaceful transition of power.

In February, “Pershing’s Own” celebrated our anniversary with a large- scale concert on Fort Myer; Colonel Timothy Holtan’s last performance with the band as leader and Commander. We welcomed Colonel Andrew J. Esch from the West Point Band in a change of command ceremony hosted at Brucker Hall on Fort Myer with many friends, family, and colleagues in attendance.

The U.S. Army Band continued to support music education. The annual Tuba-Euphonium Workshop and the American Trombone Workshop brought in big-name guest artists in the low brass field including Blair Bollinger from the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. The U.S. Army Blues and U.S. Army Band Downrange teamed up for a funk concert featuring the legendary Fred Wesley on trombone. In May, The U.S. Army Strings hosted outstanding young orchestral musicians for the Army Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition. Outstanding collegiate conductors joined the Concert Band for the annual Army Band Conductors Workshop featuring Professor Gary Hill of Arizona State University. Each of the seven selected participants led the band during a performance in Arlington, Virginia.

The Ceremonial Band participated in the wreath laying with Vice President Mike Pence for the National Memorial Day observation at Arlington National Cemetery. Later on in the summer, all elements of the band performed on Friday evenings on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol Building as part of the Sunsets with a Soundtrack concert series. We continued to provide excellent popular music support at weekly Twilight Tattoo performances on Fort Myer throughout the summer months, and in August, the Band presented its annual “1812 Overture Concert” to over 3,000 residents and Arlington neighbors on Summerall Field.

In the fall months, the Army Band supported Fort McHenry’s annual Defenders Day celebration, presented several Veterans Day performances, and capped off the year with a beautiful American Holiday Festival at DAR Constitution Hall. With Latin jazz, bluegrass, a cappella vocal music, and a full symphony orchestra, the program was high energy and entertained thousands of patrons in person and online. This year, members of the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps collaborated for a unique take on Christmas favorites.

http://www.usarmyband.com/

The United States Army Field Band, whose mission is to “serve and inspire the American people by telling the Army story,” once again toured the nation on behalf of the Army’s Chief of Public Affairs. The various elements of the Field Band––the Concert Band, Soldiers’ Chorus, Jazz Ambassadors, and Six-String Soldiers––presented more than 400 performances across the nation during the course of three separate concert tours, reaching a live audience of more than 500,000 and a broadcast audience in the millions.

The year began with performances and clinics at the Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, and the Army Field Band once again leading the Army element during the 58th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, DC. The Field Band continued to collaborate with musicians across the country, with the Soldiers’ Chorus joining the National Symphony Orchestra in May for the National Memorial Day Concert while the Jazz Ambassadors performed with the Cleveland Pops for their “American Salute” as well as at the famed Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The Field Band helped America celebrate Independence Day with a number of performances. The Jazz Ambassadors shared the stage with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra during their “Salute to America” while the Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus joined the Boston Pops Orchestra for their “Fireworks Spectacular” on the Esplanade. Six-String Soldiers were honored to be part of Philadelphia’s “Welcome America” events on July 4th as well as days prior, filming on the set of the Hallmark Channel in LA for their 4th of July broadcast.

While this year brought many high profile live events, our following on social media has continued to grow exponentially with more than 2 million followers and growing. Additionally, Six-String Soldiers continues to lead the efforts online and in broadcasts with appearances on Harry Connick Jr.’s television show, CNN with Robin Meade, the Closing Bell at the NY Stock Exchange as well as numerous viral videos which continue to garner the support of the American people.

The Field Band’s 2018 will feature a tour of the Southeast in the Spring, the release of a recording featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein as we prepare to celebrate the centennial of his birth, and a tour of the west coast in the fall, featuring performances in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and California.

http://www.armyfieldband.com

The West Point Band, the Army’s Oldest Band, has been in continuous support of the United States Military Academy (USMA) since June of 1817; training and inspiring Cadets at the World’s preeminent diverse leadership development institution. The Band commemorated its 200th year of service to the Nation with a Bicentennial Concert and gala at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center which included world premieres of commissions written for the occasion. The Band also made multiple appearances on various national television networks. The most notable media appearance was the televised Macy’s 4th of July celebration in New York City reaching 47 million viewers. The popular music element, the Benny Havens Band celebrated the release of an original country music album entitled “Songs that Save Our Lives.” This effort was a partnership with multiple Nashville music industry professionals. The album can currently be found on iTunes, Spotify, or any other place music is sold. The Field Music element, “The Hellcats,” with the traditional instrumentation of fifes, drums, and bugles are embedded in the tradition of West Point activities. This year the Hellcats traveled with the Cadet Drill team to the United Kingdom to share some of these Academy traditions, as well as experience some of the methods used in the United Kingdom’s military musical activity. The USMA Band also provided critical direct Cadet support and development through media industry integrated leadership presentations; developed Cadet Academic Enrichment programs; and provided direct instruction and mentorship to the Corps of Cadets through multiple club activities and fine arts forums. The West Point Band supported the Chief, Army Music’s working group, the Army Music Analytics team, with two key personnel, and, through the Academy, established the Army Music Research Center. The Analytics Team and Research Center efforts will benefit all military music programs across the Department of Defense establishing credible and verifiable measures of effectiveness for military music.

http://westpointband.com

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band continued its primary mission of Presidential support with roughly 110 performances at the Executive Mansion. 2017 highlights included the Presidential Inauguration, the “Salute to Our Armed Services” Inaugural Ball, the 58th Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and the band’s annual performances for the Easter Egg Roll, the Independence Day celebrations on the South Lawn, the White House Correspondents Dinner, and the Congressional Ball. The chamber orchestra is being used with increased frequency at the White House in the new administration having provided music for nearly twenty receptions this holiday season alone.

The Marine Band’s 2017 concert series saw several world premieres to include Kenneth Watson’s Bassoon Concerto for orchestra, Mike Crotty’s Concerto for piano, sextet, and orchestra based on Chick Corea’s Spain, and Jacob Bancks’ Occidental Symphony for concert band. Notable collaborations and concerts of our 2017 season included: a performance with historian and Sousa scholar Dr. Patrick Warfield on a program entitled “The March King and the First World War;” guest conductor Maestro Gerard Schwarz which, in addition to a concert, included the filming of three episodes of America’s All-Star Band that will air on PBS and exclusively feature the Marine Band performing selections from the wind ensemble’s core repertoire; an appearance at the American Bandmasters Association’s convention in Lexington, Kentucky; and a performance by principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Ricardo Morales, on Jonathan Leshnoff ’s Clarinet Concerto, Nekudim, the transcription commission of which the Marine Band was a part. Additionally, the Marine Band shared a concert titled “Notes of Honor” with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in November. In total, the Marine Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Chamber Music Series presented nearly 50 formal concerts before departing for their National Concert Tour performing 29 concerts in 31 days throughout the northeastern United States.

The band continued its extensive educational outreach through its Music in the Schools and Music in the High Schools programs, and many additional clinics and master classes presented in conjunction with the National Concert Tour and throughout the year. These initiatives have reached approximately 15,000 students in nearly 200 schools across the nation. In addition to this important outreach, we continued our popular Young People’s Concert Series with a Star Wars theme, as well as our Concerto Competition for high school musicians. Outreach to more than 27,000 educators garnered 137 applicants. This past year’s winner was Shawn Zheng, horn, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Marine Band also continues to build and maintain relationships with college music educators and maintains a list of about 250 colleges and universities who receive information about educational initiatives and upcoming audition opportunities.

In partner with our educational outreach, the Marine Band continues to increase its presence through online and social media initiatives. One of its most popular and successful programs continues to be the “March Mania” competition. Last year, roughly 700 schools and 90,000 students participated in the voting and social media engagement. The 2018 edition of “March Mania” will include more educational resources and ideas for incorporating this exciting competition into music classrooms.

The 2018 calendar year anticipates many exciting events as we commence our 220th anniversary celebrations. Season highlights will include numerous “Living History Concerts,” bringing to life elements of our organization’s storied past including Sousa’s years with the Marine Band, the Santelmann Orchestra of 1918, a tribute to the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band, and a “Dream Hour” style program featuring NPR radio host Robert Aubry Davis. Additional guests for the Showcase Series will include Dr. Jill Sullivan, author of Bands of Sisters, composer and conductor Johan de Meij, 25th Marine Band Director: Col. John R. Bourgeois USMC (ret.), and original Sesame Street cast member Bob McGrath as a part of the annual Young People’s Concert.

We have just released our latest educational album entitled “Arioso,” which features Capt. Ryan Nowlin’s new transcription of Elgar’s arrangement of Bach’s Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, Jonathan Leshnoff ’s Clarinet Concerto performed by Ricardo Morales, and James Stephenson’s Symphony No. 2, “Voices” (commissioned by the United States Marine Band) in addition to new recordings of two wind band classics: Schwanter’s . . . and the mountains rising nowhere, and Holst’s Second Suite for Military Band. In April 2018, the Marine Band will be releasing Volume 4 of “The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa,” a multi-year recording project that offers free downloads of recordings, scores, and parts to include historical and editorial notes about each piece. To date, Volumes 1, 2, and 3, have amassed nearly 170,000 downloads bringing Sousa’s music and the Marine Band’s performance practice to the public.

The Marine Band expanded its social media and YouTube presence to 5.5 million views in 2017 with videos of live performances as well as live-streamed performances of our Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Chamber Music Series throughout the year. More information on our many video offerings and audio downloads can be found on our website:

http://www.marineband.marines.mil

On a final note, esteemed assistant director, Maj Michelle A. Rakers will be retiring in May of 2018 after 20 years of faithful service, 14 in her current role. We wish her fair winds and following seas as she begins the next chapter of her life. We are pleased to welcome CWO3 Bryan Sherlock as the new assistant director to “The President’s Own.”

The United States Navy Band, based at the historic Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., performed more than 1,600 times in 2017, representing the Navy to people across the United States. With 181 people, the Navy Band is the headquarters command for 11 Navy bands, connecting the nation and Navy to audiences worldwide.

In 2017, the Navy Band performed 288 public concerts and participated in 1,321 ceremonies and military functions, for more than 1.6 million people. On national concert tours, the band performed in 82 cities in 22 states, showcasing the Navy to areas where Americans are not regularly exposed to Sailors at work.

Dedicated to education, the band performed 40 programs in support of its Music in the Schools initiative, reaching nearly 14,000 students. The Navy Band also hosted the 38th International Saxophone Symposium, the nation’s largest two-day Saxophone conference. In addition to world-class guest artists Joesph Lulloff, the Masato Kumoi Saxophone Quartet and Mark Turner, the symposium featured performances by saxophone quartets from 28 colleges and universities.

Other notable performances from 2017 included the 58th presidential inauguration (the Navy Band’s 23rd), the North Carolina Music Educators Association convention, the American Choral Directors Association National Convention in Minneapolis, the National Christmas Tree Lighting, President John F. Kennedy centennial celebrations in Boston and Washington, D.C., and national broadcasts on the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour and Bluegrass Junction on Sirius/XM radio.

The Navy’s nine fleet bands supported 23 Navy and Fleet Weeks, and performed for more than 2.5 million people in the United States. Supporting the Navy’s partnership-building missions, Navy musicians participated in various operations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, Africa, and Central and South America, including Pacific Partnership, Obangame Express and Continuing Promise. Additionally, fleet bands performed for live and broadcast audiences totaling more the 80 million people during military tattoos in South Korea, Scotland, Canada, Argentina, Hong Kong, and the United States.

www.navyband.navy.mil

The United States Air Force Band, based at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C., presented over 1,400 performances in 2017 for nearly 4 million people, and reached over 240 million through various media appearances. Performances throughout the year highlighted the 70th Anniversary of the United States Air Force. We kicked-off the year with members performing in the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade, only to return to D.C. for the Presidential Inauguration ceremonies and parade, as well as President Obama’s Departure Ceremony.

We supported numerous nationally televised sporting events, including Anthem performances at the Washington Redskins (NFL), Nationals (MLB), NY Giants (NFL), Knicks (NBA), and Houston Texans (NFL). For the 18th consecutive year, the Ceremonial Brass was featured in New York City for the 4th of July NBC’s Today Show broadcast, and the full band was in the 2017 MACY’S Thanksgiving Day Parade in honor of the Air Force’s 70th Birthday.

The Air Force Band continued our Collegiate Symposium program, welcoming 20 college students from across the nation to Washington, D.C. for a weekend to rehearse and perform with the Concert Band. We also collaborated with the National Band Association co-hosting the Young Composer/Young Conductor Mentor Project, with a 4-day clinic-style interaction that resulted in a concert performing the works of the young composers, conducted by the young conductors, that was live-streamed on our website.

The Airmen of Note jazz ensemble performed at the 2017 Percussive Arts Society International Convention, featuring a performance with the legendary Steve Smith, and presented their own annual Jazz Heritage Series where they collaborated with featured artists including Nnenna Freelon, Peter Erskine, and Marshall Gilkes. They also released two new recordings, “Veterans of Jazz” and “The Best of the Jazz Heritage Series.”

In the Spring, the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants toured through Indiana and Missouri during which they presented ten capacity crowd performances. Our latest Concert Band recording, “Breaking Barriers,” compiles music from Michael Markowski, John Mackey, Bruce Broughton, Frank Ticheli and Leonard Bernstein, as well as original pieces composed and arranged by our talented Airmen from within the Band.

The holiday season once again proved to be very busy for the U.S. Air Force Band. The Concert Band and Singing Sergeants presented three performances of their holiday program at DAR Constitution Hall in the nation’s capitol, and they produced their fifth consecutive holiday “flash mob,” which once again became an internet sensation. We also released our Spirit of the Season IV album, featuring holiday music that is now available to stream and download from our website.

http://www.music.af.mil/Bands/The-United-States-Air-Force-Band/

The United States Coast Guard Band, based in New London, CT, is the 55- member, premier musical representative of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. The past year saw a return to national touring for the Band, as it gave performances during the month of July in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Concerts of note during this was a keynote performance as the Texas Bandmasters Association Conference in San Antonio and visits to two world-renowned venues, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX, and the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO.

In March, the band served as the featured ensemble at the New England Horn Workshop held at the Hartt School of Music, in Hartford, CT. In May, the Coast Guard’s jazz ensemble, the Guardians of Swing, welcomed Grammy award winner Joe McCarthy on drum set.

The Coast Guard Band continued a robust schedule of educational endeavors through original, specifically created programs on both their home stage and through travel to schools throughout eastern Connecticut and the Washington, DC area. In total, the organization reached over 12,500 students at 80 schools.

The Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band has a particularly successful year, reaching thousands of people through high profile performances at the United Nations, The National Gallery of Art, and the Kennedy Center for the Arts.

The band is releasing two new recordings at this year’s conference, “Heavy Weather-The Music of Jess Langston Turner,” and “Ready for the Call,” which features original works and arrangements by members of the Coast Guard Band.

www.uscg.mil/band

NBA Military/Professional Band Report – December 2016

by Maj. Daniel F. Toven

2016 was another exciting year for our nation’s military bands as musicians from all services continued to provide music of extraordinary quality to audiences around the world. Many bands continue to innovate, not only with regard to repertoire and venues, but also with ensemble configuration and style.

This continued musical growth, however, took place amidst some legislative and budget-related headwinds.

Representative Martha McSally of Arizona’s 2nd District offered an amendment to the House version of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would limit the use of Government funds for military music performances to those at official ceremonies held on military installations. The amendment does not currently appear in the version of the NDAA coming out of conference committee.

Additionally, Congress directed two studies, one to be conducted by the Government Accountability Office and the other by the Department of Defense to accurately determine the cost and size of the nation’s military bands. It is believed that the methodology used to conduct these studies will help correct misinformation about the cost of military bands which has appeared in the press over the past year.

As a result of force design updates and future force projections, the Army will experience notable downsizing in its bands. Beginning with a planned restructuring which took effect in 2014 and continuing through further directed cuts to take effect by 2019, the number of Army musicians will have been cut by over 15%, resulting in the deactivation of 13 bands. In conjunction with the GAO review, the Army has directed its own bottom-up review of the Army Music program to ensure that bands are properly organized, manned, and equipped.

The Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award program continues to honor the exemplary service of military musicians from all branches of the armed services. This year, 43 superb servicemen and women will receive this honor. Special thanks goes to Mr. Jonathan Agee and the United States Army Field Band for outstanding logistical support of this initiative. Thanks also goes to the NBA Executive Committee and the Colonel George S. Howard committee of the John Philip Sousa Foundation for their facilitation and validation of this award. More information about the award, its namesake, and past awardees can be found at: www. bands.army.mil/hamiltonaward

NEWS FROM THE PREMIER MILITARY BANDS

The United States Coast Guard Band, based in New London, CT, is the 55-member, premier musical representative of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. Since last year’s report, the band participated in two nationally televised events and participated in a red carpet movie premier event. In December 2015, the band provided the music for the National Tree Lighting, hosted by President Obama, the First Lady, and their children. The annual event, watched by millions around the world, provided the opportunity for the band to collaborate with such artists as Reese Witherspoon, Trombone Shorty, Miss Piggy.

In February, the Coast Guard Band’s vocalist joined a joint services chorus to present a rendition of America the Beautiful during the pregame ceremonies for Super Bowl 50. January found the band in Los Angeles, CA to participate in the premier of Disney’s “The Finest Hours,” a movie based on the real-life Coast Guard hero, Bernie Webber. The band then hosted the 2016 College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, along with composer in residence Frank Ticheli.

The band just released a new recording this December entitled “Forever Free – the Music of Kenneth Fuchs” and plans the release of two more albums in 2017. One is entitled “The Music of Jess Turner” and will feature the Mr. Turner’s concertos for flute, saxophone, and tuba. The other recording, titled “Coast Guard Made” will feature music composed and arranged by members of the U.S. Coast Guard Band, including a bass clarinet concerto titled “Concerto in Rock” by Senior Chief Musician Andrew Grenci, as well as a transcription of Canteloube’s Chant D’Auvergne for soprano and band.

www.uscg.mil/band

The United States Air Force Band, based at Bowling Air Force Base in Washington D.C., presented over 1,400 performances in 2016 for nearly 800,000 people, and reached over 170 million through various media appearances. Highlights for the year include a reappearance at Macy’s July 4th fireworks celebration broadcast from New York City, a trip by the Air Force Strings to Cambodia to recreate a 1954 performance there by the Air Force Band, and the 17th appearance of the Ceremonial Brass on NBC’s Today Show. The Concert Band and Singing Sergeants toured through Ohio and Pennsylvania during which they presented ten sold-out performances.

The Airmen of Note jazz ensemble performed at the 2016 Detroit Jazz Festival and presented their own annual Jazz Heritage Series in a new venue, the Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, VA, where they collaborated with featured artists including Steve Turner, Cyrus Chestnut, and Terell Stafford. The Airmen of Note also provided the musical entertainment for this year’s National Tree Lighting.

In addition to the National Tree Lighting, the holiday season once again proved to be very busy for the U.S. Air Force Band. The Concert Band and Singing Sergeants presented three sold-out performances of their holiday program at DAR Constitution Hall in the nation’s capitol, and they produced their fourth consecutive holiday “flash mob,” which once again became an internet sensation and featured a cameo appearance of the Secretary of the Air Force for the second year in a row.

The band released several recordings this year. To celebrate the Air Force’s 75th anniversary, the band presents a two-disc set: a Concert Band album entitled “Journeys” along with the jazz band’s self-titled recording “Airmen of Note.” Each year the band records its holiday presentation at Constitution Hall and makes it available the following fall. The 2015 performance entitled “Spirit of the Season III” is now available. Additionally, the band is releasing a compilation recording featuring the group’s noted former commander and conductor, Col. Arnald Gabriel, titled “The Gabriel Years.”

www.bands.af.mil

The United States Navy Band and its various ensembles, based at the historic Naval Yard in Washington, D.C., performed across the United States as the premier musical representatives of the Department of the Navy. In January 2016 the Commodores jazz ensemble performed at the Jazz Educators National Conference in Louisville, KY. February saw the Sea Chanters chorus participating in the Super Bowl pregame presentation as part of the joint service chorus and the band’s premier country ensemble, County Current, performing at the highly-televised Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Convention in Nashville, TN. In March, the band’s brass quintet performed at a Medal of Honor ceremony at the Pentagon, while the Commodores Combo supported the White House Medal of Honor reception. Throughout the spring and summer, the Commodores, Country Current, and the Cruisers (the band’s premier contemporary/popular music ensemble) all toured separately through the central and western states. In November, the Sea Chanters and Cruisers performed a halftime show at the NYGiants-Philadelphia Eagles game at Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

www.navyband.navy.mil

“The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band continued its primary mission of Presidential support with nearly 300 performances at the Executive Mansion. 2016 highlights included four State Dinners for Canada, the Nordic Countries, Singapore, and Italy and the band’s annual performances for the Easter Egg Roll, the Independence Day celebrations on the South Lawn, plus support for the White House Correspondents Dinner, Kennedy Center Honors Reception and the Congressional Ball. The chamber orchestra also enjoyed the spontaneous guest conducting of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel while he was in attendance at the White House for the National Medal of Arts and Humanities event.

The Marine Band’s 2016 concert season will conclude with two performances at the Midwest Clinic featuring guest artists, Dr. Patrick Warfield and Tom Hooten, as well as showcasing two new works for wind band. The first of these is a Marine Band commission of James Stephenson, his Symphony No. 2, Voices, and the second is a Midwest Commission for which the Marine Band will offer the world première, Donald Grantham’s Symphony after Hafiz. Other highlights from 2016 included the transcription premières of John Williams’ The Flight to Neverland from Hook done by Paul Lavender, Gerard Schwarz’ own transcription of Rudolf and Jeannette, and Adam Schoenberg’s Picture Studies crafted by MGSgt Donald Patterson. We also continued our popular “Young Peoples Concert Series,” “Music in the Schools” programs and the Concerto Competition for high school musicians. This year’s winner was flutist Mei Stone of Waco, TX.

The Marine Band’s 2017 calendar anticipates many exciting events to include the swearing in ceremony for the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. The band’s latest CD project, to be released in January of 2017, is entitled “Picture Studies” and features the Schoenberg as well as a new transcription of David Conte’s A Copland Portrait, crafted by Capt Ryan Nowlin, and the Dmitri Shostakovich transcription by MGSgt Donald Patterson, Suite from The Gadfly. The band will also be showcased at the 2017 ABA convention in Louisville, KY in February. Guest Artists will again play a significant role in the 2017 Season. Maestro Gerard Schwarz will collaborate once again in a program featuring the “Cornerstones” of the wind band repertoire in February. Ricardo Morales will also make an appearance as a featured soloist performing the Clarinet Concerto, Nekudim by Jonathan Leshnov, on a program that will also feature a première of Jacob Bancks’ Occidental Symphony.

The Marine Band continues to increase its presence through online initiatives. In addition to our “March Mania” and live streaming all of our chamber recitals, the band has completed Volumes 2 & 3 of “The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa,” a multi-year recording project that offers free download of the accompanying PDFs of the full scores to include historical and editorial notes about each piece. More information on The Complete Marches of JP Sousa and new live recordings of the Marine Band, Chamber Orchestra and chamber ensembles are all available for free download and are updated monthly in the “Audio Resources” section of the Marine Band website. These selections include marches, symphonic repertoire, soloists and a “New Music Corner.”

www.marines.mil/community/music/

www.marineband.usmc.mil/

The West Point Band kicked off its bicentennial year with an appearance in the 90^th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The Band has been in continuous support of the United States Military Academy since June of 1817; training and inspiring Cadets at the World’s preeminent leadership development institution. Plans to commemorate this milestone in the Band’s history will include a published history book and a commemorative concert and gala at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center. Commissions will also be written for the Band by Michael Ables, Ira Hearshen, Joe Trapanese, and Tim Simonec to help capture the significant role the Band has played in the history and future of the Military Academy.

The United States Military Academy Band demonstrated a significantly increased mission impact as the Army’s lead New York City Engagement tool by continually working to bridge the civilian-military gap in the New York City Metropolitan Area, a prime media outreach environment, and a strategic focal point for the Chief of Staff of the Army. The organization exhibited outstanding and meritorious performances within its area of operations that frequently resonated on a national platform. Performing groups and individual performers within the organization demonstrated agility and cohesiveness to a changing unit mission, leveraging new dynamic operational environments through broadcast, print, digital, and social media, reaching new key and diverse populations throughout the nation and the world.

The organization targeted USMA Admissions outreach opportunities to help the Army Officer Corps reflect the diversity of our nation through multi-agency engagement in missions such as the 2016 New York International Auto Show, Eagle Academy for Young Men of Harlem, Aspire Academy, and the New York City Harmony Program for underserved youth. Year-over-year virtual and live audiences increased 29% through key community engagement events culminating in a standing-room-only outdoor Independence Day Celebration that featured the internationally-acclaimed Mormon Tabernacle Choir to an audience of 15 thousand. The organization has developed a social media presence that rivals similarly structured organizations at no additional cost to the Army, allowing critical resources to be deferred to mission-essential requirements. During this time period, the unit ushered in a new era of strategic communication of the value of Army Music across the digital domain. As a result of the USMA Band’s aggressive media messaging campaigns, the Army narrative and strategic messaging was received by audiences totaling 13 million.

At the small-group level, the Benny Havens Rock Band (BHB) has re-invigorated live music performance productions specifically geared toward the Cadet ages 17-24 demographic. By producing engaging and authentic stage shows, which include synchronized programming of lights, sound, and multimedia, the BHB was recognized by the Chief of Army Bands and Adjutant General Corps as the Music Performance Team of the Year.

The Field Music Element (“The Hellcats”) have endeared themselves to each cadet by performing daily meal formations. In addition to their primary duties of rendering Reveille and Retreat ceremonies each day, they have selectively integrated popular music into the traditional instrumentation of fifes, drums, and bugles, and are the first-call for any mission requiring a performance steeped in the tradition of West Point. Such excellence was displayed on the streets of New York City during the internationally-televised Columbus Day Parade, warmed the hearts of each and every veteran during the 2016 Veterans Day Parade and Closing Bell ceremony at the NY Stock Exchange, and reflected the roots of American military music on the Battlefield of Antietam 150 years after that great battle. Simply written, the Hellcats produced more saturation of outreach than any single performing element in the organization during this same time period.

Individual Soldiers in the organization have been recognized internationally, demonstrating day-to-day excellence as stewards of the Army Profession, and demonstrating the USMA strategic goal of sustained professional excellence in a culture of winning. For example, one Soldier was featured on a solo exposé on the televised singing competition “The Voice;” another Soldier served as the DoD Liaison to the GRAMMY Award Nominations Committee; and a third created an enduring theme song for the Department of Defense “Warrior Games” while simultaneously creating a musical soundtrack to a cadet-driven video project seen by more than 500,000 on social media. Individual talent was further exhibited when the unit provided the Primary Percussion Instructor for the Army All-American Bowl Band. Each Soldier serves to represent the Army profession to thousands of potential enlistees. The unit also renewed a Fox News holiday television production titled, “A West Point Holiday” which united generations of the Nation’s finest Army Officers, weaving age-old Academy traditions and landscapes with performances from diverse combinations of unit performance elements. The USMA Band also increased Direct Cadet Support and Development through providing media-integrated leadership presentations, developed Cadet Academic Enrichment programs, and provided direct instruction and mentorship to the Cadet Spirit Band and the Cadet Strings.

Further exposure was brought to the Army by performances at an increasing number of professional sports arenas (NFL, MLB, NHL), Belmont Stakes Triple Crown, Pocono Raceway, and featured television appearances including Fox and Friends, The Today Show, and the 2015 World Series. All total, comparable positive exposure would have cost the Army over $5,000,000 in advertising fees. Further, several opportunities were accomplished with only one single Soldier per mission, providing maximum concurrent outreach with minimal overhead cost.

The unit was a reliable strategic resource in serving the priorities, strategy, and messaging of the Army to the nation and those within the United States Military Academy footprint. Through increased performance mission capabilities of each performance element, the unit received a 19% increase in requests for Band participation. In line with Army Chief of Staff Directives, the unit also increased targeted civilian-military relations to underserved communities, setting the unit apart from other military bands, and displaying superior world-class mission performance and devotion to duty by all members of the unit.

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The United States Army Field Band, whose mission is to “serve and inspire the American people by telling the Army story,” once again toured the nation on behalf of the Army’s Chief of Public Affairs. The various elements of the Field Band—the Concert Band, Soldiers’ Chorus, and Jazz Ambassadors—presented over 200 performances across the nation during the course of three separate concert tours, reaching over 200,000 people. Highlights included performances at the American Bandmasters Association and at the Detroit Symphony’s July 4th “Salute to America.” The Jazz Ambassadors headlined the Texas Bandmasters Association Conference, while the Concert Band offered performances at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. On Veterans Day 2016, the Jazz Ambassadors appeared with the Portland Symphony, the Soldiers’ Chorus joined forces with the New York Pops at the famed Carnegie Hall, and both the Concert Band and Chorus appeared on the Fox News Channel’s morning “Fox and Friends” to honor the nations veterans.

The Army Field Band’s newest ensemble, the Six String Soldiers, captured the attention of an enormous online and television viewing audience. They appeared on twice on the Harry Connick, Jr. Show, on Fox Business Network as they rang the New York Stock Exchange opening bell, with John Fogerty on CNN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade, as well as in numerous self-produced videos widely shared on social media.

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The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” whose mission is to provide support for the leadership of the United States…and to a wide spectrum of national and international events” supported myriad high profile events in the nation’s capitol and throughout the U.S. during the past year and sponsored several national music events at their training facility on Joint Base Myer – Henderson Hall in Arlington, VA. In February, the Concert Band and Orchestra supported the annual Tuba-Euphonium Workshop, one of the largest tuba-euphonium conferences in the world. This past year’s guest artist lineup included The American Tuba Quartet, the East Carolina University Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, the Samford University Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, Demondrae Thurman, as well as the Heeresmusikkorps Veitshöchheim from Germany. In June, the Concert Band, Orchestra, and Army Blues jazz band sponsored the annual American Trombone Workshop, which featured performances and masterclasses by the Juilliard Trombone Quartet, Mark Kellogg, and Harry Waters, among others. In June the band participated in the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, KY. Likewise in June, the band hosted its National Collegiate Solo Competition and in July once again held its annual conducting workshop.

The Ceremonial Band and Herald Trumpets continued to provide world class support to our nation’s public ceremonies. They performed for our national Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies and once again joined the National Symphony Orchestra for the nationally televised “A Capitol Fourth” held each year on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Additionally, they provided musical support to state visit ceremonies for the Prime Ministers of Canada and Italy as well as the President of Singapore. In May, both groups traveled to Orlando, FL to join Prince Harry of Great Britain for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Invictus Games.

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