By Fiona Roy
As the theater lights dimmed and the Commanding Officer and Conductor of the United States Navy Concert Band Capt. Kenneth C. Collins walked onto the stage murmurs of excited audience members lapsed into silence.
With a gentle downswing of Collins’ baton, a steady staccato piano beat and a twinkling wind instrument melody crescendoed through the theater casting the audience into an eerie rendition of “Motu,” the band’s opening song composed by Chief Musician Chris C. Buchanan.
The U.S. Navy Concert Band, the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy, performed at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on March 31.
The audience consisted of band members’ friends, family and University of Maryland students.
Rebecca Williams, a freshman music education major, said that she heard about the concert from her professor during an ensemble rehearsal.
“My first thought was just to go,” Williams said.
As a saxophonist, Williams was excited to hear the renowned woodwind section of the performance, admitting that it was “really cool to hear” a musician of such caliber play live.
The U.S. Navy Concert Band was founded in 1925 with the intent to help provide musical support to the president of the United States, Department of the Navy and other senior military and government officials, according to the U.S. Navy Band website.
The band’s mission on their website says it brings pride, “inspires patriotism, …enhances Navy awareness and public relations, supports recruiting and retention efforts, preserves the Nation’s musical heritage, and projects a positive image at home and abroad.”
The band played several pieces during their performance including an ensemble consisting of Disney songs from “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Frozen” and “Tangled,” accompanied by the band’s two vocalists, Senior Chief Musician Casey Campbell and Chief Musician William Edwards.
“I thought it was absolutely fascinating,” Sophia Vulaj, sophomore public health and science major, said. “I really respected how they played.”
Along with their performance and rehearsal responsibilities, the enlisted musicians are responsible for daily administrative work as well as helping educate young musicians.
Lia Arakal, a sophomore information science major, said that she grew really close with her high school marching band drumline director Tim Perry, a percussionist for the U.S. Army Band.
“The Navy Band is super unique because of the community they’re able to build together,” Arakal said. “For the percussion section specifically, Tim Perry would tell me a lot about how close they were together, how they would hang out a lot outside of the band.”
More than just friends and family are brought together through these concerts – with close proximity to D.C., students can easily get involved with the band and see how music can take on a different persona, Vulaj said.
In fact, their website says that the U.S. Navy Band is officially dedicated to aiding with the education of young musicians through the Music in the Schools program which allows the band members to present clinics, master classes and recitals at local schools.
“The Navy brought together a big community of people,” Vulaj said. “I was very happy that it left such a positive influence, and I really felt that the community came together.”
Featureed photo: Members of the U.S. Navy Concert Band warmed up on stage before the show. The performing group is primarily composed of wind instruments. (Fiona Roy/Stories Beneath the Shell)