Hometown Visit for Sea Chanters Drummer

Musician 1st Class Kevin Taylor

It is day 19 of our tour and we are in Erie, Pa. After a very rainy and gusty drive yesterday from Rochester, N.Y., we grabbed a quick lunch and then ventured back through the wetness to WQLN 91.3 FM public radio station. The Sea Chanters sang several selections in a 30-minute performance and several members of the group participated in "on the air" interviews. I have never done a radio program, so I thought it was a really fun and unique way to spend our afternoon. There was a live audience present to watch us do our broadcast and they all put their names into a drawing for tickets to the show. I hope whoever won was able to attend!

We performed our 15th tour concert last night at Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pa. Our drummer, Musician 1st Class Kevin Taylor, grew up 15 minutes west of Edinboro in the town of Cranesville. Needless to say, there was a huge Kevin Taylor "fan base" present at the concert. When I asked Kevin how many showed up to support him, he told me that there were about 35 members of his family and 40-50 friends there. The applause and cheers went on for a full minute when Kevin was introduced before the instrumental trio was featured. It is always such a treat to see family and friends when we are out on the road. Kevin was all smiles; it was wonderful to see.

However, visiting with his family is not all that Kevin has been doing while the Sea Chanters are in town. He kept busy visiting schools in the area, performing on various percussion instruments, listening to and critiquing student performances, and describing the life of a military musician. He presented in a local middle school and high school and will also be visiting a school today before our concert. Thank you, shipmate, for your hard work and dedication. You do us proud!

Musician 1st Class Jennifer Stothoff is a soprano vocalist in the Sea Chanters.