Go Nittany Lions!

The Concert Band arrived at State College, Pa., yesterday for its penultimate concert. While we've played at a number of colleges and schools on this three-week tour, nothing has been quite like the experience of staying in a hotel right off the campus of Penn State. This vibrant college town was crawling with students going to and from class and patronizing the numerous establishments nearby. Many band members knew of the famous Berkey Creamery on the campus and made their way there to try the ice cream at the historic establishment.

"Which Day of the Week is it?"

The daily routine while traveling on tour is almost invariably: wake up, get on the bus, check into a new hotel, board the bus again, perform a concert, sleep (repeat 20 times). "Which day of the week is it?" is a fairly common question among our ranks during tour. We strive every night to give a heartfelt, memorable performance, but the fast pace and repetitive nature of tour can make the days run together and blur.

Then, suddenly, we'll encounter something or someone that encourages us to stop, clear our heads and take careful notice of our surroundings. Today was full of opportunities to focus on something other than the daily grind! For example, a small group of Sea Chanters drove ahead of the bus from Bethel, Maine, to Keene, N.H. Our drive through the White Mountains took us past what remains of "The Old Man of the Mountain." The "Old Man" was a natural rock formation on Cannon Mountain that formed the shape of a man's face - a profile that is immortalized on New Hampshire's state quarter. The formation collapsed in 2003, and all that remains is a bit of the "Man's" forehead. What struck me while passing the "Old Man" is that many of our current Sea Chanters were lucky enough to see the "Man" in all his former glory just two Northeast tours ago!

Nearing the End

With only two concerts left, the band is gearing up for our return to Washington, D.C., and is looking forward to playing our tour programs one last time! If the previous stops on this trip are any indication, I am sure that these last two concerts are going to be exceptional, the band has only performed better and better as the tour has gone on.

Last night we performed in Butler, Pa., to a packed and enthusiastic audience. With so much going on in the world today, it is great to see so many people coming out to support not only great music, but the United States Navy. It is with great pride that we take to the stage each night doing what we do as a unit to serve.

Moose Crossing

Yesterday was our 12th day on the road and the Sea Chanters have truly left the first half of tour in big cities behind us. Musician 1st Class Rachel Sarracco, the tour manager for our first half of tour, completed her final concert the previous night. She did a marvelous job, and we thank her for all of her dedication, hard work, and attention to detail.

Our second tour manager, Musician 1st Class Bill Edwards, took the helm yesterday and led us to Bethel, Maine; a tiny town where skiing and snowboarding are the recreation of choice. I don't ski myself, but I am enjoying the scenic views and friendly people. The three hour drive led us north by way of tree lined and snow capped mountain roads. I couldn't help but chuckle as we passed several "Moose Crossing" caution signs. How do the moose know to cross only between the caution signs?

The City of Architecture

Yesteray the Concert Band had the distinct honor to play in one of the greatest theaters of North America: Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, N.Y. In a city noted for its amazing architecture (including notable buildings designed by Henry Hobson Richardson, Louis Sullivan, Frederick Law Olmstead and Frank Lloyd Wright), Shea’s Buffalo Theater is an outstanding venue for any performing group. The original architects, Rapp and Rapp of Chicago, used designs made by Tiffany Studios to finish the luxurious interior, which includes eight-foot tall chandeliers and amazing plasterwork. Shea’s is one of only four Tiffany-designed theaters still in existence. It is also important to note the herculean effort that the city of Buffalo made to restore this theater, in terms of volunteering, financially supporting, and legally getting the theater into the right ownership.

Dines to be New Command Master Chief

Capt. Brian Walden announced to the band over the weekend that Master Chief Musician Kevin Dines has been selected as the Navy Band's command master chief. Dines will replace Master Chief Musician David Miles this summer.

Miles has served the band as command master chief for three years, and will be retiring this year after 30 years of service. He joined the Navy Band in 1981 as a euphonium instrumentalist. During his 30 years, he has served as the Concert Band operations chief, Concert/Ceremonial leading chief petty officer, Concert Band unit leader and Concert/Ceremonial chief in charge.

Dines is currently serving as the Concert/Ceremonial chief in charge. Prior to that, he was the Ceremonial Band unit leader. Dines joined the band in 1988 as a trumpet instrumentalist.

The command master chief serves as the top enlisted manager, supervises and coordinates activities which affect enlisted personnel, and assists in maintaining the highest standards of conduct, morale and appearance.

Congratulations, Master Chief Dines!

Honoring Veterans

Yesterday the Sea Chanters left the urban city of Boston, and entered our fifth state on our New England tour: New Hampshire. We performed in the oldest high school in New Hampshire, erected in 1846. The theater sat 1,200 patrons and was absolutely lovely.

It is our 11th day on our national concert tour, which means we are more than half-way through. The time has gone by rather quickly, and I believe that is because our audiences are so appreciative and patriotic. It is so wonderful to bring our show to other parts of the country.

More Great Crowds

Yesterday we traveled to Rochester, N.Y., to perform a Sunday afternoon matinee. It was a short bus ride from Auburn and the band was very excited when we pulled into the concert site at Roberts Wesleyan College. We were fortunate enough to play for not only a sold-out crowd, but a very enthusiastic one as well. I am sure that when the Sea Chanters stop in Rochester later on their own tour that they will be just as thrilled as we were!

Our soloists for the afternoon, Chief Musician Tia Wortham and Musician 1st Class Jason Neihoff performed wonderfully. The large stage allowed Jason enough space to perform, and what a treat it was! Not only is his playing of Andrew Beall's "Affirmation" concerto for percussion and wind ensemble top notch, his distinct style and stage presence really shines through during his extended cadenza. It never fails to bring the crowd to their feet and it really electrifies the band; I know that I can't wait for him to perform again tomorrow night in Buffalo!

Paying a Visit to "Old Ironsides"

Boston is an awesome city. There is so much culture and lots to see! Some of us had the opportunity to try some of the Italian fare along the Italian district, not to mention some of the most amazing pastries from Mike’s Pastry Shop. Another group visited USS Constitution and couldn’t help but sing the Sea Chantey “Boston Harbor” while taking the tour. The area is fun and the people have been very friendly.

Last night's concert took place at Madacheese Middle School in Yarmouth, Mass. Our concert patrons were fantastic and welcoming. Long travel days and concerts every night can wear you down, but these patrons gave us newfound energy. The people of Yarmouth lifted our spirits with their patriotism and we received several standing ovations throughout the concert. Their enthusiasm was truly inspiring.

More Sea Chanters Tour

Yesterday, we pulled away from our hotel in downtown Providence, R.I., to begin our journey across state borders into Massachusetts. Sometimes we find ourselves fortunate enough to stay in really fascinating locations or unique and interesting hotels while on our national concert tour. Our stay in Providence had provided both, as the hotel was a converted Masonic Temple located directly across the street from the state capitol building. An abundance of history was at our fingertips as we explored the hotel and the grounds around it.

One might think that after such a compelling combination of amenities in Rhode Island, it would be a pretty tough act to follow. However, after a few hours on the bus, we made our way into downtown Boston to check into another fantastic hotel. The opportunity to travel to all these different cities and represent the Navy for our audiences is enough to reason to feel incredibly lucky. But when we also get to enjoy such amazing places to stay, the situation becomes even more gratifying!

To the Finger Lakes

Yesterday we travelled across the state of New York to the wonderful city of Auburn. Auburn is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York and it was wonderful to look out side the bus and watch the miles pass us by. Our concert was at East Middle School and their performing arts hall was just magnificent. The concert sounded wonderful; it is so much fun to make music when you are playing for a great audience like we had last night.

To make a great evening even more special, we were treated to a lavish feast prepared by our sponsors, the Italian Heritage Society of Auburn. We ate generous portions of pasta, chicken, and savory vegetables capped off with a gigantic plate of canolis and cream puffs, all prepared by members of the society. Aside from the cooking, they were fantastic entertainers and serenaded us with traditional Italian songs. Then our very own soprano, Chief Musician Tia Wortham, displayed our gratitude with a heart warming rendition of "O Mio Babbino Caro" from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini. We were all blown away by her performance; what a wonderful way to end a wonderful night!

Musician 1st Class Jeremy Buckler plays trombone in the Concert Band.

Hello, Ocean State!

After four days spent in New Haven, Conn., the Sea Chanters finally broke camp and headed to our nation's smallest state, Rhode Island. After a smooth bus ride, we arrived at our hotel in Providence and settled in. Almost immediately, we were struck by the hospitality and friendliness of the people in Rhode Island's capital city. The playful (yet helpful) hotel staff; the servers in the local restaurants; the people we met in the area - in one short afternoon they made a big impression on our choir!

It came as no surprise, then, that the audience at our evening concert was just as delightful! The auditorium at Warwick Veterans High School was filled almost to capacity well before the 7:30 p.m. downbeat. To begin the concert, Ms. Nancy Kennedy and her fabulous choirs treated the audience to an inspired program that was full of variety. The students sparkled in their performance and their obvious love of music set the tone for the evening. We were honored to follow such beautiful singing!

Back to Concert Form

After a restful day off, the band returned to concert form last night. Saratoga Springs proved to be a hospitable town on our day off, as we took care of all the things that require a bit more time than we might have on a regular tour day. For many of us, that meant getting haircuts to maintain our standards, doing that last load of laundry or shopping for those essential (or not so essential) items. For others, it was a time to recover from sicknesses that may have crept in over the last two weeks. It was also a welcome opportunity to eat dinner at a normal time, and in a more relaxed manner, since we didn't have a concert in the evening.

Our concert last night was a bit of a trek from Saratoga Springs, as we played in Hudson, N.Y., at the Columbia-Greene Community College. The venue was very welcoming and the crowd was particularly spirited and patriotic. This particular concert took place in the college's gymnasium. It's always an interesting experience to play in a gymnasium, for a couple reasons. For starters, the wall behind the percussion and the mats over the basketball hardwood sometimes makes it even easier to hear your fellow musicians. As you might imagine, that can also lead to the band sounding louder than usual. Spirited tunes like "Russian Sailor's Dance" and "Popcopy" were especially vibrant in the gym tonight.

A Quick Breather

Today we left the beautiful state of Maine and headed to Glens Falls, N.Y. It was a long six hour bus ride and we were all glad when we pulled into the hotel, even though we had to get right back onto the bus to head to the concert in only an hour and a half! When you only have that short amount of free time, everyone does something different. Some of us, like yours truly, went and walked around where we are staying in Saratoga Springs. Some went and grabbed a quick bite to eat before the concert while others headed down to the gym for a quick run on the treadmills.

Once we arrived at Glens Falls High School, everyone finished the final setup of equipment and then started warming up. It is very hard to get in practice time when you are on the bus all day so I know we all took a little more time warming up and making sure we were ready to go. The concert went really well; the concert hall at Glens Falls High School sounded really great!

A Day in the Life of a Soprano

(I'm the blurry one on the left)

The Sea Chanters are currently on a 21-day tour of the Northeast U.S.

After waking up early, I quietly ate my breakfast in the dark hotel room so I wouldn’t wake my roommate. Then, it was off to the hotel gym.  We Navy girls need to stay in shape, especially when we are eating out three meals a day while we are on the road.  After a shower and a quick, but yummy, lunch at a local restaurant, it was off to Manchester, Conn.

Several of the Sea Chanters traveled early to Manchester High School so we could work with the Roundtable Singers, a mixed high school chorus, established back in 1938.  This impressive group of young singers brought back such fond memories of high school music for me.  I saw so much of myself in all of them.  They were so excited to sing for us and seemed impressed by what we brought to sing for them.  It is so inspiring to hear the great things music educators are doing in our schools.  I have done this twice so far on tour, and I think it may be one of my favorite parts.  Who knows? We may have even met a future Sea Chanter!

Turning Point

At the midway point in the Concert Band's tour, we headed back south from Bangor, Maine.  The morning began on a bit of a somber tone, as the news of the downed aircraft outside Libya, and the subsequently rescued airmen, played on the cable news at breakfast.  It was a stark reminder of the operations the Navy Band supports through its public outreach on national concert tours.

Although four inches of snow fell over the course of the night, Maine is far more prepared for inclement weather that might disrupt events at our home in Washington, D.C.  The band left Bangor a bit earlier than usual to take advantage of an early check-in in Portland.  The extra time during our one-night stay in Portland was much appreciated.  The unique shops and restaurants of this harbor town made quite the impression on the band, not least of which were the various seafood restaurants that provided the last opportunity to eat lobster in Maine.  By late afternoon, the employees of the nearby J's Oyster were identifying band members as they arrived for clams, oysters, and lobster.

Concert Band in Maine

We arrived in Bangor, Maine, yesterday evening. This is definitely as far north I have been in the United States. Maine has an evergreen kind of rustic beauty that appeals to me.

This morning five members of the Navy Band went to Bangor High School (Go, Rams!) to give a music clinic for the band students there. They performed some solos, talked to the students and played some pieces with the students in their band.

Other Navy Band members took in the sights (such as Stephen King’s house) and cuisine (short trip to Bar Harbor for sea food).

Sea Chanters in Norwalk

We woke up today and it was gray and rainy outside. We were gloomily anticipating a long bus ride to Norwalk, Conn. It is hard to be on the bus all day, especially with gray weather, and dig deep for the energy to give the audience the show they deserve. 

All of the obstacles were there in the morning, but this seemingly dreary day turned out to be full of good things. Our shipmate, Musician 1st Class Mike Belinkie, was SIQ (sick in quarters- the Navy version of your doctor telling you to stay home) when we left for our tour, but today he was cleared by medical and able to take a train up to Connecticut and meet us on the road! We are all so happy for his return. He is an incredible tenor vocalist, such a positive person, and our show is more complete now that he is here. Welcome back, shipmate! 

Meeting Heroes

Yesterday we headed further up north to Fairfield, Maine, to perform a Sunday afternoon matinee at Lawrence High School. We had a great time performing for everyone in attendance, including a very special guest.  Albert Poissonnier joined us today for the concert. He served in the Navy during World War II aboard USS Callaghan (DD-792), a Fletcher-class destroyer. On July 28, 1945, Albert and his shipmates were stationed in the pacific protecting a line of radar ships.

P.T. on the Road

I am constantly amazed by two qualities of the people I work with here at the Navy Band.  The first is why they were hired in the first place: their uncanny musicianship.  The other is their adeptness at becoming innovative in areas other than music.  People of the band have talents ranging from cooking to car maintenance to fitness.  In the case of tour, maintaining good fitness is a challenge for us.


Exercise confined within a modified hotel room with the typical selection of treadmill, stationary bike, and small weight bench can become boring quickly.  This problem is compounded when you realize that 50+ people would like to exercise during the limited hours we spend in the hotel.  The situation is also difficult when traveling during March in states where the weather can be somewhat unpredictable and often cold and precipitous, making outdoor activities uninviting.  Thanks to the innovative exercise program created by Musician 1st Class John Martinich, we have the ability to P.T. (physical training) in a fun group format while getting a great workout in a short amount of time with limited exercise resources.  

Sea Chanter Tour: Day Three

It’s day three!  We traveled to Toms River, N.J. to perform at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River.  The sanctuary was decorated with American flag bows on the pews and hung in the back of the church was a gigantic American flag. Singing our patriotic pieces and looking up to the flag, really brought a whole new meaning of what it means to serve America, especially when we sing Dolly Parton’s “Color Me America” (red, white, and blue.) Sponsoring us for the ninth time was our good friend, Jeff Alino. We greatly appreciate his support for the Sea Chanters and the Navy Band.

Visit from CHINFO

Friday night we performed a very memorable concert in Springfield, Mass., at the Springfield Symphony Hall. The concert was part of kicking off the city of Springfield's 375th anniversary celebration. We also realized that the Navy Band helped kick off the 350th anniversary celebration 25 years ago! In addition to the mayor of Springfield being in the audience, we had the distinct pleasure of having Rear Adm. Dennis Moynihan, the Navy's chief of information (CHINFO), join us. He is a native of Springfield and he had many of his family members joining him at the concert. It was a real treat to get to spend time with CHINFO after the concert.

The concert was a real success and we received many ovations from the audience and performed many encores. Our solosits for the night, Chief Musician Tia Wortham and Musician 1st Class Jason Neihoff both performed flawlessly and received thunderous applause. We also had some students from Springfield Sci-Tech's marching band join us on stage for Washington Post March and they sounded great! The band is really enjoying the tour so far; every town we have been in has been so welcoming. We are really looking forward to the concerts coming up!

The Sea Chanters Hit the Road

The Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus embarked today on our 21-day tour of the Northeastern states.  As we departed the Anacostia Naval Station parking lot, we were treated to delicious doughnuts by Chief Musician Scott Silbert, the Navy Band's chief arranger.  It was regarded by all as the finest possible way to begin a national concert tour!

We enjoyed gorgeous sunny weather and stunning views of the Lehigh Valley on our way to Pennsylvania for our first concert.  A few of our singers drove early to Lehighton Area High School, our concert site, to give a voice clinic to students from the choral program.  We had a blast!  Mr. David Perkins, the choral director of Lehighton Area H.S., had put together a great display case that made us feel warmly welcomed.

Pieces of 8!

After a nice start to our tour yesterday, we headed across the Pennsylvania state border into New Jersey for our concert tonight at Phillipsburg High School.  The hall was quite charming, with decorative chandeliers along the ceiling that reflected the older character present throughout the entire school.  We were met with generous amounts of hospitality from everyone at the school that made us feel very welcome!  Along with some great help loading our gear from staff members, we were treated to some excellent home-cooked food before the show that made us feel just a little bit closer to home.  And if that wasn’t enough, we were treated to a short performance from "Pieces of 8," a female barbershop group of students from the school’s music program.  They pulled off an inspired performance that reminded us all how important music can be in an educational setting. 

The house was packed tonight with a very appreciative audience.  Several veterans came up to us afterwards to share their stories and how our performance made them proud of their time in service.  We are always moved to hear how what we do makes an impact on others; Especially those who have served before us. 

Well done, "Pieces of 8," and a big thank you to all who helped make our night at Phillipsburg High a great one!  See you tomorrow in Toms River, N.J.

Musician 1st Class Mike Webb is a bass vocalist in the Sea Chanters.

Broadcasting from Mechanics Hall

After a great concert in Southington, Conn., we quickly headed off early

the next morning to Worcester, Mass., for a mid-day concert at Mechanics

Hall. Mechanics Hall was a great place to play, not only because of

how beautiful the space is, but because the acoustics are world-class as well!

Many well-known groups use the hall for recording purposes on a

regular basis and from the band's first notes we could tell why! This

concert was also special because it was being broadcast locally on the

radio and worldwide on the internet. It was a joy to talk to

family back home that were able to tune in and hear us while we are

out on the road. The band really rose to the occasion and sounded

spectacular!

Next up we have a travel day and then we are all looking

forward to our concert on Friday night in Springfield, Mass.

Catching Up With an Old Friend

One of the great pleasures of traveling across our great country as
representatives of the Navy is the opportunity to reconnect with band
members who moved on to other interests or retired. Tonight we
got to spend some time with former Navy Band trumpet player, Jerry
Bryant.

Jerry is a terrific artist whose outstanding playing made it possible
for him to survive, and even thrive, in the survival-of-the-fittest
environment of the freelance musician in New York City. Among his
many professional commitments are performing with the New York City
Opera and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and teaching at Kean and
Jersey City Universities.

Navy Ambassadors

While we are on tour, we try to serve as ambassadors for the U.S.
Navy in the best ways we can—by playing great music and by
creating personal contacts. Yesterday, after the concert at the Warner
Theater in Torrington, Conn., it was a thrill to chat with Mr.
James Newton, a retired member of the Navy Band from the battleship
USS Missouri (BB-63) and a 1950 graduate from the U.S. Naval School of Music.

Picture Perfect

Today we made our way further north to Torrington, Conn. It is a very cool town, located about an hour west of Hartford. We had the pleasure of performing at the Warner Theatre in downtown Torrington. Situated on Main St., it was a fantastic display of Art Deco architecture and was full of history. There were so many ornate details inside and out that when we all walked onto stage to set up, everyone stopped to admire the hall and many of us were taking pictures. 

Concert Band Tour: Day Three

The Concert Band left West Reading, Pa., this afternoon after two successful performances and traveled east to  the city of Greenvale, N.Y.  Tonight's performance was  at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of Long Island. Capt. Walden and the band delivered an exciting concert to a capacity crowd featuring selections such as Quartets, Popcopy, and Russian's Sailors Dance. 

Candy Bars

Tonight was our second concert of the tour and the band is really sounding fantastic! We had about an hour bus drive through beautiful Pennsylvania to our concert in Hershey, Pa. The concert was met with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement from the crowd; Hershey High School was such a great place to have a concert. After the concert was over, our tour sponsor gave us a ton of Hershey candy bars! 

Concert Band Tour: Day One

Although our 2011 national concert tour began today, part of my heart is still at home with my wife and two children. It will be a great tour, but a little sad to be away from them for three weeks.

Our first concert was not too far away. After a pleasant drive through Pennsylvania Dutch country, we went to West Reading, Pa., to play in the Scottish Rite Cathedral. The hall was packed with many enthusiastic locals. We played a challenging program that began with an all-brass piece by Giovanni Gabrieli. We also featured singer Chief Musician Tia Wortham in three gorgeous songs by William Grant Still and harpist Chief Musician Emily Dickson in a hauntingly beautiful piece by Claude Debussy.

Remembering Inauguration 2009

Participating in the inaugural parade and celebration every four years is one of the big highlights of being a musician in the Navy Band.

In our YouTube video (embedded below the article), you'll notice that we pass the reviewing stand at around 1737 (that's 5:37 p.m. to our civilian readers). However, our day began much earlier...

Our report time at the historic Sail Loft that morning was 0700.  There were 99 musicians, plus about 10 or so backups, and four officers. Most of the band members were required to sleep at the building the previous night, due to city streets surrounding the Washington Navy Yard being closed for security purposes. I was living within walking distance of the building at that time, so I was exempted from participation in the great Navy Band slumber party of 2009.

A Message from the Commanding Officer

March and April are a busy time for the Navy Band as our two largest performing ensembles, the Concert Band and the Sea Chanters chorus, embark on national concert tours. Touring is one of our priority missions and it is a great way to share our Navy message to people all over this great country. The Navy’s slogan, “America’s Navy – A Global Force for Good,” truly describes what we are about. Music can be a global force for good in many ways and I believe our tours are the embodiment of this slogan on a national scale. We look forward to making new friends and seeing old acquaintances as both groups travel to the Northeast. The tour schedules are available on the website, so please go there for concert information. In advance, I'd like to personally thank our tour sponsors. Our success on these trips is largely due to their preparatory work behind the scenes. I urge each of you to support us with your attendance when we visit your area.