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MARIETTA -- The United States Navy's official chorus will perform a free concert Saturday at Marietta High School.
Doors open for the performance by the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the high school auditorium, with showtime at 7 pm.
"This is the same group that has performed for presidents, Congressional delegations and military and foreign dignitaries," said Janelle Patterson, director of media and communications for Marietta City Schools.
Formed in 1956, the Sea Chanters repertoire includes everything from traditional music and sea chanteys to opera, Broadway numbers and contemporary songs. They've sung at inaugurations, funerals, monument dedications and movie premieres.
The group reached out to the school when setting up its national tour dates, due to the quality of its auditorium and the strong veteran presence in the area, Patterson said. She noted how local veterans groups "not only support each other but they support their community."
The concert is free and open to the public, with a special invitation extended to veterans. Organizers ask that people register for tickets online at bit.ly/SeaChanters_MariettaHigh or by calling 740-374-6502 to help with planning.
The performance will benefit Marietta students as well, said Korey Parlin, director of bands at the high school.
"They get to see all kinds of different parts of what we're trying to do here at the school," he said.
Besides choir and band students watching professionals perform, they can get a glimpse of folks doing lights, sound and stagecraft. That's something the school has been emphasizing in new career and technical efforts since seventh- and eighth-graders moved to the high school campus at the start of this school year, Patterson said. Students handled lighting and sound for the high school's production of "Cinderella" in February.
Parlin said some students may be able to help out and shadow the technical crew for the Sea Chanters.
"It's a pretty awesome opportunity because it is their (the Navy's) premiere choral ensemble," he said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.