Lauren Veronie - Army Strong Stories

End of a Busy Summer

Lauren Veronie — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 04:16:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
It's been a while since my last post, so I thought I'd share some pictures of the various activities that kept me busy over the past few months. After Summer Tour, the Field Band had several local missions. We played a concert every weekend in August. Most were in Maryland, but a few took us as far as Delaware and Pennsylvania. For the second year in a row, Field Band soldiers traveled to local elementary schools to talk to kids about music. These 4th graders will soon be...read more

German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency

Lauren Veronie — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 22:57:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
Several members of the FIeld Band have been working toward the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency. This month, we completed the final event needed to qualify for the award—a 12-kilomter road march. Two vans departed the Fort Meade Motor Pool at 0530 for Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) headquarters in Virginia. Units from all over the country took part in this great event, hosted by German Soldiers stationed in Virginia. There was a fantastic sense of...read more

In the Navy (for a day)

Lauren Veronie — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:58:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
On Tuesday, I had the great privilege of sitting in with the US Naval Academy Band while their euphoniumist, Karl Schultz, was out for training. The band had an evening concert at the Annapolis City Docks. Annapolis is one of my favorite cities, and this was such a gorgeous location for a concert. We were staged right up agains the Chesapeake Bay, and you could see rows of sailboats bobbing behind the band. The temperature was just starting to cool down a bit as the sun...read more

Saying Goodbye

Lauren Veronie — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:58:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
I spent Memorial Day weekend in Fayetteville, North Carolina, saying goodbye to my brother as he heads off to Iraq for the next year. Our family has been anticipating this day since Lance commissioned, almost three years ago. He has worked so hard, been through so much training, to prepare him for this mission. I am unbelievably proud of my little bro. Lance is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer, which means that he, along with the rest of the men and women in his company, is...read more

Summer Tour

Lauren Veronie — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:58:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
The US Army Field Band recently completed a summer tour of the Northeast, and I wanted to share some of my favorite moments. Most of our summer shows are outdoors. Usually, there is a stage of some sort, but occasionally we just get a wide-open grass field. Regardless of location, there is one thing I've learned—if you set up a band, the people will come. I celebrated my 27th birthday in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Before the concert started, I noticed a lady in an...read more

2011 US Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conference

Lauren Veronie — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:59:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
The final week in January was a blast, as I was able to spend much of it in Arlington, VA for the 2011 Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Conference. This free and open-to-the-public event is the perfect way to start each year. I love catching up with old friends from all over the country, and jamming with my military comrades in the various low-brass ensembles. This fine-looking group is the Armed Forces Tuba Euphonium Ensemble (AFTEE). It's open to any active-duty military...read more

"Così fan tutte" at the Kennedy Center

Lauren Veronie — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:58:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
On February 8th, members of the Soldiers' Chorus of the United States Army Field Band presented Act I of Mozart's famous opera Così fan tutte. The venue was the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. This was a great opportunity for the Army Field Band to reach out to the community and let them get to know us as soldier-musicians. Members of the cast have been working for months to put on this exciting show. You can watch the performance online...read more

Military Music Outreach in Western PA

Lauren Veronie — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:59:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
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

Fall Tour Part IV

Lauren Veronie — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:59:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
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

Fall Tour- Part III

Lauren Veronie — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:30:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
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

Fall Tour 2010- Part I

Lauren Veronie — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:59:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
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

Fall Tour 2010- Part II

Lauren Veronie — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:59:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
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

Summertime

Lauren Veronie — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:59:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
After such a long and snow-filled Winter, I'm so glad to see Summer. I've been keeping busy with work but making sure to enjoy the nice weather. Brass Five + 1 celebrated Flag Day, (June 14th), with some local elementary school kids. They enjoyed our patriotic show, and I even gave them a taste of the euphonium with a performance of "Auld Lang Syne." I'm not sure they knew what to make of it, but some of the kids started clapping along with the 2nd variation... don't...read more

2010 International Tuba Euphonium Conference

Lauren Veronie — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
Last week I had the privilege and pleasure of attending the 2010 International Tuba Euphonium Conference (ITEC), in Tucson, AZ. This gathering of low-brass enthusiasts occurs every two years and brings together the best and brightest of our musical community. I attended as a representative of the US Army Field Band. It was an inspirational experience. Below I've highlighted some of my favorite moments. One important function of these conferences is to provide an...read more

Field Band Spring Tour 2010- Halfway Done!

Lauren Veronie — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:01:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
The US Army Field Band is currently out on a 33 day tour of the Midwest and just hit the halfway mark. So far we have trekked across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. The audiences have been great and very enthusiastic. This first picture is from a very cool venue called the Palace Theatre in Marion, OH. This concert was in a very different kind of location. It was the Madison Park Church of God in Anderson, Indiania. It has to be one of the largest...read more

Texas Recital Tour

Lauren Veronie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
The US Army Field Band sent its many chamber group components all across the nation during the last week in February. These mini-tours allowed members of the concert band to perform and interact in a more intimate setting than our large venues generally allow. Since the euphonium is not traditionally an instrument found in common chamber groups, (brass quintets, woodwind quintets, trios), I took the opportunity to strike out on my own and do some solo teaching and performing. I was...read more

2010 US Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conference

Lauren Veronie — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
Before the Snowtastrophe struck, I was fortunate enough to attend the 2010 United States Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conference. This fantastic annual event is held at Fort Meyer and provides a wealth of opportunities to perform, hear great live music, and participate in valuable seminars and lectures. One of the best things about the conference is that it brings together musicians from all the Armed Service branches. I'd love to share a few pictures with you. The highlight...read more

No Business like Snow Business

Lauren Veronie — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
Well, this Texan has experienced her first blizzard. It has been interesting. I'll try to start at the beginning of the past few weeks of winter madness. This picture was taken on Saturday, January 30th. I was on Fort Meyer in D.C. for the annual Army Tuba-Euphonium Conference when the first snowstorm hit. I had to make it back to Maryland that afternoon, so a friend and I got out on the roads and VERY slowly made our way North. For the record, I did...read more

End of Summer

Lauren Veronie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
This lovely, busy Summer is winding down, and I'm eagerly anticipating a fantastic Fall! Here are some highlights from late August through September: After being in the Field Band for a full year, it's nice to no longer be considered a "newbie." Here I am posing with one of our brand new members, Jeannie Wiesman, at her first TUSAFB concert. This gig was our rain-plagued Alumni Concert, that turned out great, despite the weather refusing to cooperate....read more

Summer Tour Part II

Lauren Veronie — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
The Field Band's second tour this Summer was very special to me because it marked my first time to be playing as a professional in my home state of Texas. I've collected some of my favorite pictures to chronicle events.... This lovely green monstrosity of a government van was my life for four days and 1,360 miles prior to our tour. I volunteered for a duty lovingly known as the "dead-head," where a group of band members and our professional truck drivers convoy with...read more

Summer Tour Part One & Leave

Lauren Veronie — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:01:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
The Field Band has been out on the road quite a bit this month for Summer Tour. We played some really nice concerts and the weather has been fabulous, which is good because many of the gigs were outdoors. This first picture is from Boardman, Ohio on July 3rd. Lots of sweet fireworks after the show. Our 4th of July was spent in Pittsburgh, PA at a huge celebration on the Allegheny River. This was one of the largest and most challenging set-ups I've seen yet. There...read more

Recent Happenings

Lauren Veronie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:01:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
I thought I'd post some highlights from the past month or so. Our unit's schedule is a little different. We are on TDY a little over 100 days out of they year. That's when we do our main tours and travel all over the country. Right now we are in the middle of our "off-season" before we head out on Summer tour. We've been keeping quite busy with rehearsals and some pretty unique performances. One of the most poignant was our send-off for Colonel...read more

About SSG Veronie

Lauren Veronie — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:01:00 GMT

By: Lauren Veronie
Hey there! I’m Staff Sergeant Lauren Veronie and I play euphonium in the United States Army Field Band, stationed at Fort George G. Meade. I grew up in the small town of Willis, Texas, and my dream since around age 15 was to play music professionally in one of the premier US military bands in Washington D.C. I went to college at the University of North Texas and was there for six years earning my Bachelor of Music and my Master of Music. I was just getting started on a Doctorate when...read more