Army band, chorus delight music lovers
By JEFFREY SAULTON, jsaulton@newsandsentinel.comArticle Photos
PARKERSBURG -Music lovers of all ages were on hand for Monday's concert by The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus of Washington, D.C.
With a program ranging from Mozart to Billy Joel and a few patriotic marches, each person in the audience heard something that appealed to them at the Parkersburg High School Memorial Field House concert sponsored by the Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Sgt. Maj. Joan Mercer said the band and chorus play 120 dates each year in cities large and small. She said the band and chorus have a mission to bring the Army out to the people.
"Our main mission is to play for the public," she said. "We keep America in contact with the Army."
Mercer, who is the tour coordinator and section leader in the alto section of the chorus, said the field band is an umbrella for smaller bands playing various types of music. She said there are 93 members of the band and 20 in the chorus.
At the start of the program the Parkersburg High School Navy Junior ROTC presented the colors.
At the end of the Billy Joel Songbook, the audience gave the band and chorus a standing ovation and gave their approval during the encore. During the song "Proud to be an American" the soloist substituted Parkersburg for New York in the line from "Detroit to Houston and from New York to L.A."
During "The Washington Post March," 12 Parkersburg High School band members performed with the band. They were Tommy Divins, alto sax; Alex Clegg, tuba; David Scott, trumpet; Ashley Caplinger, clarinet; Amanda Butler, piccolo; Ryan Wolfe, tenor sax; Matt Brooks, horn; Jason Brookover, baritone sax; Drew Doering, trumpet; Stephanie Holbert, clarinet; Steve Martin, alto sax, and Andrew Kirk, percussion.
Williamstown resident Tom Griffith said he enjoyed the evening, especially the variety of songs.
"I think it was a great concert. There was a little bit of everything for all," he said. "I liked the marches; they make you feel 50 years younger."
Two in the audience gave Sgt. 1st Class Judith Norton high marks for her performance of "Parto, parto" from Mozart's opera "La Clemenza di Tito."
"I think the band and chorus were excellent," said Jeri Whiteleather of Parkersburg. "I have never been to the opera and this was the first time I've heard opera performed live."
"I loved the opera singer," said Meridith McKain of Parkersburg.
"It was an excellent concert. I loved all of it," said Connie McKain of Parkersburg.
The Concert Band and Soldiers' Chorus regularly perform joint concerts with major orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Dallas Symphony and the Cincinnati Pops. In addition to working with some of the most prominent orchestral conductors, including Keith Lockhart and Erich Kunzel, the Musical Ambassadors are frequently featured in nationally televised broadcasts on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
The Field Band is called upon to participate in ceremonial events. The band has marched in presidential inaugural parades, escorted the president on many occasions, and played for visiting heads-of-state. It performs special commemorative concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, including for the Bicentennial of the Constitution and the 50th anniversary of World War II.
|
WVCommissioner
|
|
|---|---|
|
10-14-08 12:37 PM
|
This was one of those events that I really wanted to attend but could not make work. I hope the News and Sentinel bring them back soon!
|