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When I was in seventh grade my band teacher Mr. (now Dr.) Brown suggested I try playing the euphonium. That simple suggestion has led to perfomances around the world, a doctorate in music, college loans paid off completely and an incredible career of music and mission in the United States Army. I graduated from Bob Jones University in 1998 with a bachelors degree in euphonium performance (the euphonium is a low brass instrument that is unique to military bands and brass bands;...read more
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The U.S. Army Field Band is presenting a series of holiday music specials around the mid-Atlantic region. Programs featuring the Concert Band and Soldiers' Chorus are titled, "Sound the Bells." These photos by MSG Rob McIver are from the concert presented at Fort Meade. Here, SSG Rachel Farber, a wonderful soprano vocalist, performs on the violin. Our guest conductor. Santa (MSG Dan Sherlock) is always a hit with the kids. There are...read more
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On November 20th, I was honored to represent the US Army at Slippery Rock University's Tuba-Euphonium Day at The Rock. Dr. Brian Meixner, who teaches low-brass and conducts the wind and brass ensembles at SRU, hosts this wonderful, free event. Renowned musician Patrick Sheridan was there as tuba guest artist and I was the euphonium artist. Slippery Rock is about an hour north of Pittsburgh. Participants drove from all over the region to attend. It was a great chance for me to talk about...read more
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The US Army Field Band had its first gym gig of tour at the home of the feisty Mosley High School Dolphins in Lynn Haven, FL. I was a fan of this mounted mascot. SSG Parks is using it for warm-up inspiration. It has reached that point of tour where everyone is acting a little goofy. MSG Cameron and SFC Sarangoulis prepare their embouchures for concert number twenty-two. Our venue for the November 7th afternoon show was the Baptist College of Florida. The house...read more
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One tradition that I really miss in today’s Army, other than shining boots , is that in this new high speed ACU uniform you cannot be pinned on with a new rank and have it punched right into your chest. I have had all of my ranks from Private First Class to Staff Sergeant punched right through my uniform and to my skin. It feels like a rite of passage to the next rank. …now we have Velcro rank. With all of the pros of not having to sew-on and pin-on all tabs, badges,...read more
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The Concert Band and Soldiers' Chorus of The U.S. Army Field Band presented their final Fall Tour performance in Fayetteville, NC. Our Soldiers always show a smile on stage but there may be a little extra zing in MSG(P) Bill Elliott's grin because he'll see his family the next day. Our great flute section finishes the piccolo solo of the "Stars and Stripes Forever." Why do our Soldiers spend one-third of their entire career away from...read more
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The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus have been on the road for nearly five weeks and after that many "one-nighters," some temporary insanity sets it. Staff Sergeant Lauren Veronie has apparently forgotten which end of her horn to blow in. One of the reasons our performances go so smoothly is our announcer, Master Sergeant Bill Gabbard who hails from American Samoa. In Duncan, SC we saw several of our "alums." SGM (Ret) Ken...read more
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In Lakeland, Florida, The US Army Field Band performed in a large community hall to a packed crowd. SSG Carmen Russo, one of the band's phenomenal trombonists, is played a piece called Colors by Bert Appermont. Carmen is aboslutely rocking; Colors is one of my favorite pieces the band is playing this tour. The Soldiers' Chorus presented a concert for students of Florida State University on November 5th. I had a gig with my brass group earlier in the day, but my evening...read more
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The US Army Field Band just completed a 36-day tour of the Southeast. We traveled from Fort Meade, MD, down to Miami and back, giving concerts all along the way. The band spent time in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. I'll do several posts over the next few days with some of my favorite pictures and highlights from the trip. One of our first hotels of tour, the Hampton Inn of New Bern, offered the band a marquis greeting. We had a very...read more
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Traveling such a beautiful part of the country makes tour go by quickly. Our concert in Daytona Beach was at the Peabody Auditorium, just 1/2 a mile from the Atlantic. The audience loved us and it was a treat to play in a nice hall. I didn't get a chance to take many pictures before or during the concert, but I thought I would offer a glimpse of what the post-concert teardown is like. The band is pretty darn efficient when it comes to clearing out after a show and leaving no trace. All...read more
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