Fanfare (May/June 2016)

May/June 2016 w Volume 37 Number 3

Concerts on the Avenue 2016 Young Artist Competition Spotlight on MUCM Aaron Porter

A Message from the Commanding Officer

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wo of our performing units have just returned from their national tours which, over the course of seven weeks, included 43 performances in eight states and covered 6,500 miles. It was truly an honor to be out on the road sharing the Navy’s story through music with enthusiastic audiences across the Northeastern United States. Now, we begin preparation for what promises to be a busy summer in and around Washington.

This time of year provides ample opportunities for folks visiting our nation’s capital on vacation to see a performance at the Capitol, the Navy Memorial, Nationals Park and parks and venues throughout the region. Please stop by and let us know you are visiting! To find out when and where we are performing, please check out our website.

I am excited to welcome aboard our new executive officer, Lt. Cmdr.

Mark Corbliss. He brings a wealth of experience having most recently served as executive officer at the Naval School of Music. Prior to that he had successfully served as director of Navy bands at Fleet Forces and Navy Regions Southeast and Southwest. We look forward to his leadership in the coming years.

fanfare

Kenneth C. Collins, Captain, USN Commanding Officer

Volume 37 Number 3 Commanding Officer CAPT Kenneth Collins

Public Affairs Officer MUC Adam K. Grimm Editorial Staff MUC Melissa D. Bishop MU1 Sarah F. Blecker MU1 Jonathan R. Yanik Layout and Design MUC Stephen W. Hassay MU1 Adrienne W. Moore

Photographers MUC Brian P. Bowman MUC Stephen W. Hassay MU1 James C. Anderson MU1 David B. Aspinwall MU1 Jon C. Barnes MU1 Eric A. Brown MU1 Jeremy D. Buckler MU1 Adele Demi MU1 David Smith

fanfare is a bi-monthly magazine published by the U.S. Navy Band public affairs staff.

Front Cover: Lt.j.g. Luslaida Barbosa conducts the United States Navy Band during a concert at the U.S. Capitol during its summer concert series of 2015. (U.S. Navy photo

by Chief Musician Brian P. Bowman/Released).

CONCERT BAND - UTICA, NEW YORK

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I wish you could have seen the excitement on my sons (sic) face as he watched this performance. He swore, that he would be up there on that stage, wearing a uniform, playing his trumpet someday, making some kid dream of being up there like he once did...and there is not a doubt in my mind that he will. You all are such a wonderful inspiration, and I just wanted to say thank you for such a lovely evening! We hope to have the opportunity to see you play again someday! ~Andrea

Concerts on the Avenue 2016

By Musician 1st Class Sarah Blecker

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Lightning,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “You’re fter a rough winter and a blustery start to the One That I Want.” spring, it’s time to welcome in the warm weather. And what better way to do that than And, as always, we close the concert with a patriotic tribute to the men and women who serve at home with the start of our summer concert series? Come join us as we celebrate America’s Navy with music and abroad, saluting veterans who have served in all that will have you dancing in your seats! The concerts facets of our great military and honoring those who take place on select Tuesday evenings at the Navy Me- have made the ultimate sacrifice. morial as part of our Concerts on the Avenue series.

Please see the schedule on page 5 for our summer concert dates. ff This year’s concert will highlight naval history and heritage, honor the Marine Corps’ proud tradition of service and their partnership with the Navy, pay tribute to the greatest generation and showcase some of America’s most iconic music.

Three of the Navy Band’s six ensembles will be performing in collaboration with the Navy Ceremonial Guard, who will kick off the show with a drill team and flag demonstration to the theme from “Rocky.” Highlights of the program include an Andrews Sisters tribute, “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves, “Higher Ground”

by Stevie Wonder and a compilation of music from “Grease,” to include Visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/usnavyband) or YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/usnavyband) and select the Concerts on the Avenue video playlist to see samples from past performances. hit songs “Hand Jive,” “Greased

Flutist Wins Young Artist Solo Competition

By Musician 1st Class Josh Arvizu

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n Saturday, March 26, six young musicians, all finalists for the Navy Band’s Young Artist Solo Competition, arrived at 10 a.m. to play for our panel of five judges. Each student was given time to warm up and a 20-minute time slot to perform. The finalists were: Samuel Primack, flute, from Lodi, California; Jason Hong, clarinet, from Rockville, Maryland; Yeama Ho, flute, from Potomac, Maryland; Tracie Kwon, flute, from Germantown, Maryland; Hannah Tassler, flute, from Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Harrison Williams, saxophone, from Round Rock, Texas.

I have been involved in some type of capacity

with this competition since 2011 and each year I am beyond impressed with the level of talent of the students competing. This group of students is especially remarkable because all six of them could have won! In the end, Yeama Ho was awarded first place and was the recipient of the Ambassador Middendorf Young Artist Award, Tracie Kwon won second place and Samuel Primack won third place.

First place winner Yeama Ho is an 11th grader at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland. She began her flute studies with Susan Brandt and currently studies Continued on page 6 with David Lonkevich. Ho

COMMODORES - MCLEAN, VIRGINIA

We just wanted to express our gratitude for the amazing concert presented by the U.S. Navy Commodores in McLean, VA last night.

Among the many high quality productions at Alden Theater the Commodores performance stood out as unique and truly exceptional…

Audience engagement was off the charts! ~Rick and Deborah

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Performance Schedule

All concerts are FREE and open to the public. Tickets or reservations are not required unless noted (*). Please note that all concert information is accurate at time of publication, though subject to change due to weather and other conditions. For inclement weather announcements, please call 202-433-2525 or visit www.twitter.com/usnavyband. For the most up-to-date information, please check our online performance calendar at: www.navyband.navy.mil

MAY

CONCERT BAND

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 7 P.M. Gar-Field High School 14000 Smoketown Road Woodbridge, Va.

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 7 P.M. Herndon High School 700 Bennett St. Herndon, Va.

BRASS QUARTET

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 6 P.M. Laurel Presbyterian Church 7610 Old Sandy Spring Road Laurel, Md.

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2 P.M. Riderwood Village 3150 Gracefield Road Silver Spring, Md.

CHAMBER RECITAL FRIDAY, MAY 6, 7 P.M.

St. Louis Catholic Church 12500 Clarksville Pike Clarksville, Md.

SEA CHANTERS

SUNDAY, MAY 15, 4 P.M. The Phillips Collection 1600 21st St. NW Washington, D.C.

MONDAY, MAY 22, 6:30 P.M. Vienna Town Green 144 Maple Ave. E. Vienna, Va.

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 8 P.M.

National Memorial Day Concert U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C.

COMMODORES

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 7 P.M. National Harbor 165 Waterfront St. National Harbor, Md.

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 7 P.M.

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 7:30 P.M.

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 6 P.M.

JUNE

National Harbor 165 Waterfront St. National Harbor, Md.

Leonardtown Town Square Fenwick and Washington streets Leonardtown, Md.

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 7 P.M. Allen Pond Park 3330 Northview Drive Bowie, Md.

MONDAY, MAY 30, 1 P.M. ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY JAZZ FESTIVAL Waterfront Park 1 A Prince St. Alexandria, Va.

Bethany Beach Bandstand 99 Garfield Parkway Bethany Beach, Del.

SEA CHANTERS

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 7 P.M. Avalon Theatre 40 E. Dover St. Easton, Md.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 7 P.M. Harris Pavilion 9021 Center St. Manassas, Va.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 8 P.M. Rehoboth Beach Bandstand 1 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del.

COUNTRY CURRENT

COMMODORES

Heritage Shores Military Club 1 Heritage Shores Circle Bridgeville, Del.

War Memorial Park North Tennessee Ave. Martinsburg, W.Va.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 7 P.M.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 7 P.M.

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 4 P.M.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 6 P.M.

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2:30 P.M.

THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 7 P.M.

Fairfax Corner Plaza 11901 Grand Commons Ave. Fairfax, Va. Rockville Town Square 30 Maryland Ave. Rockville, Md.

SEA CHANTERS - BOWIE, MARYLAND

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CRUISERS

Belmont Bay 570 Harborside St. Woodbridge, Va. Harris Pavilion 9021 Center St. Manassas, Va.

It was the first time we heard the Sea Chanters and the concert was far better than my expectations. Each performer was excellent. The selection of music and each arrangement was fantastic. The encore was Great, Great, Great!!!!!!!!! What a fun, uplifting performance.

Thank you so very much! ~Janice

2016 Summer Concert Series Mondays, 8 p.m.

U.S. Capitol West Steps JUNE 6 - Commodores 13 - Commodores 20 - Concert Band 27 - Concert Band JULY 11 - Commodores 18 - Commodores 25 - Concert Band AUGUST 1 - Concert Band 15 - Concert Band 22 - Concert Band 29 - Concert Band

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 7 P.M. John Carlyle Square Park 300 John Carlyle St. Alexandria, Va.

Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.

U.S. Navy Memorial 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW JUNE 7 - Country Current 14 - Concert on the Avenue 21 - Concert on the Avenue 28 - Concert on the Avenue JULY 5 - Commodores 12 - Country Current 19 - Concert on the Avenue 26 - Concert on the Avenue AUGUST 2 - Concert on the Avenue 8 - Concert Band (Monday) 16 - Concert Band 23 - Concert Band 30 - Concert Band

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 7 P.M. La Plata Town Hall 305 Queen Anne St. La Plata, Md.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 7 P.M.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 7 P.M.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 7 P.M.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 8 P.M.

La Plata Town Hall 305 Queen Anne St. La Plata, Md.

National Jazz Workshop George Mason University 4400 University Drive Fairfax, Va.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 7 P.M. Shamrock Park Humbert Amphitheater 39 Hickory Ave. Bel Air, Md.

COUNTRY CURRENT SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 7 P.M.

Springettsbury Township Park Amphitheater 1501 Mt. Zion Road York, Pa.

National Harbor 165 Waterfront St. National Harbor, Md.

Rehoboth Beach Bandstand 1 Rehoboth Ave. Rehoboth Beach, Del.

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 7 P.M. O’Donnell Lake 10400 O’Donnell Place Waldorf, Md.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 6:30 P.M. Odenton Regional Library 1325 Annapolis Road Odenton, Md.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 7 P.M.

National Museum of the Marine Corps 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway Triangle, Va.

Welcome aboard to... LCDR Mark Corbliss, our new executive officer, and to MU1 Ashleigh Leas, flutist with the Concert/ Ceremonial Band.

Congratulations to...MU1 Joe Friedman, sailor of the quarter, and MUC Brian Bowman, senior enlisted of the quarter.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 7 P.M. Leesylvania State Park 2001 Daniel Ludwig Drive Woodbridge, Va.

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 7 P.M. Stango Park 114 E. Third Street Lewes, Del.

COUNTRY CURRENT BLUEGRASS SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 6 P.M.

South Valley Park 18850 Montgomery Village Ave. Montgomery Village, Md.

CHAMBER RECITAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 3 P.M. Westwood Baptist Church 8200 Old Keene Mill Road Springfield, Va.

CRUISERS

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 7 P.M. Chambersburg Memorial Park 1 Memorial Drive Chambersburg, Pa.

SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 7 P.M. Allen Pond Park 3330 Northview Drive Bowie, Md.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 7 P.M. Renfrew Park 1010 E. Main St. Waynesboro, Pa.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 6 P.M. Belmont Bay 570 Harborside St. Woodbridge, Va.

COUNTRY CURRENT - CALVERT, MARYLAND

I just wanted to let you know that Country Current put on an absolutely amazing show at the Calvert County Library on February 10! The musicians were all beyond talented, the bluegrass was on point, and the band could not have been nicer to all the guests that were there last night. ~Sarah

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Young Artist Solo Competition continued... has received top awards from many competitions including the Flute Society of Washington Honors Competition, American Protégé International Woodwind and Brass Competition, the Woodbridge Concerto Competition, the Asian-American International Music Competition and the Music Teachers National Association Competition (Maryland and D.C.). In 2015, Ho received the merit award in the National Young Arts Competition. She has also competed as one of the finalists in the U.S. Army Young Artist Concerto Competition and the Frederick Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Concerto Competition. Ho is a member of the Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

Second place winner Tracie Kwon is a ninth grader at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland. Kwon has studied with Michelle Cho since 2009, and has a long list of musical honors to her credit.

She won the gold prize at the INPASS Music and Arts Festival in 2011 and won first place in the Honors Competition at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair by Flute Society of Washington in 2012. She was also the second place co-winner in the wind category of the Young Artist Award sponsored by the City of Gaithersburg in 2014, and won second prize in the Korea Times Music Competition in 2014. She is principal flute for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra and the New Life

Young Artist Solo Competition winner Yaema Ho

Youth Orchestra.

Third place winner Samuel Primack is a 12th grader at George Washington University Online High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society. He has played flute and piccolo for seven years, currently studies with Isabelle Chapuis, and has also studied with Carole Romans. Primack was named as a concerto competition winner for the Sacramento Premier Youth Symphony in 2016 and 2012. Previously he was a member of the Central Valley Youth Symphony and was their 2012 Concerto Competition winner. Primack was also a 2012 and 2014 International Concerto Competition winner with American Fine Arts Festival. He has performed as a soloist with the Kostroma Symphony in Russia, won second place in the 2014 Fresno Philharmonic Young Artist Concerto Competition and was a first place winner in the International Flute Competition for American Protégé in 2012.

The winners will perform with the Concert Band Wednesday, April 27, at 7:30 pm at Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Virginia. Ho will perform as the featured soloist on the first movement of Mozart’s Flute Concerto in D, and all three of these incredible students perform with the concert band on a newly arranged version of music from “The Incredibles.” ff

Young Artist Solo Competition, 2nd place Tracie Kwon

Young Artist Solo Competition, 3rd place Samuel Primack

CONCERT BAND - MARRIOTTSVILLE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, MARYLAND

I cannot tell you how much we enjoy these concerts and what a richness it adds to our lives. I am getting ready to retire from the uniform services and learning about and attending these performances is one of the many benefits of service I will continue to enjoy!!! ~Ron

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Spotlight on...

MUCM Aaron Porter

by Chief Musician Adam Grimm

Master Chief Musician Aaron Porter reported to the Navy Band in 1986, and is set to retire this summer after 30 years of service. He spent 22 years as a French horn instrumentalist in the Concert/ Ceremonial Band and the last eight years as the band’s public affairs officer.

How has the Navy Band changed since you started here?

Well, it’s difficult to know where to start! The first example is not so much a change, but something that has improved incrementally: our professionalism in everything we do. We’re the ultimate self-help organization. Virtually all of our staff, until recently, has been entirely made up of musicians who learned on the job the various administrative, operational and fiscal tasks that keep us going. We do have a few civilian specialists on board now to help with some of that, and we’re so grateful to have them. The world has gotten only more complex over the years, and it’s great to have experts in the information technology and financial disciplines to guide us.

Oddly enough, one of the biggest changes I can think of since 1986 is smoking. When I reported on board, smoking was allowed anywhere in the building except the Sail Loft. When you walked into the old admin. office, you could barely see to the end of the hall because the haze was so thick. A couple of years later, we had designated smoking areas in the building, and shortly after that, smokers were banished outside.

What advice would you give to someone who is just now starting their career in the Navy Band?

First of all, I envy you…for you the adventure is just starting! It’s not in vogue these days, but I would advise a new member to keep a journal, or at the very least, write down the details of some of the more memorable jobs you do. This job gives you a front seat to history.

You never know…the PAO may ask you what the most memorable moments of your career were (see below)!

Another bit of advice...don’t be afraid to try something new. I’d encourage everyone starting here to enjoy being a fully-employed musician for a while.

After that, though, look for something to do around the

organization that will challenge you in a new way, and that will help make this a better place to work. Don’t shy away from innovation, don’t be afraid of suggesting improvements, and be receptive to suggestions on how you could improve. No matter how well a job has MUCM Aaron Porter been done by someone else, there’s a way to make it better, or bring it up to date. My first collateral duty job in the band was as a photographer in PAO, and I never, in my wildest imaginings, thought I’d end my career as PAO chief, and I’m so glad I wasn’t afraid to take it on. That and being support staff chief in charge opened my eyes to a side of the Navy Band I never would have appreciated as much otherwise.

What are the most memorable moments in your 30-year career?

Near the top of that list would have to be the band’s visit to Russia in 1996 to participate in the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. One of our concerts was in a large plaza in St. Petersburg at which now-retired Master Chief Jerry Ascione was the piano soloist on Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” The plaza was filled with people who just went wild at the end.

On that same trip, we played a joint concert with a Russian band in a big concert hall. As is the protocol at such an event, we played the host country’s anthem first, followed by “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This was not too long after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the USSR, and the end of the Cold War. I don’t think we were prepared for the emotional response from the audience, which was listening to an American military band playing their anthem in public.

There weren’t a lot of dry eyes after that.

Continued on page 8

COMMODORES - WILMINGTON, DELAWARE

My life is good and it was made better tonight. The concert brought happiness to a lot of people tonight. Thank you United States Navy, and God Bless America. The Commodores represent what the greatness of America produces and their music is an inviting experience for the world to see what is so great about America. ~Daniel

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fanfare

Department

of the navy

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OFFICIAL BUSINESS

Spotlight continued...

What’s the future for the Navy Band and Navy music?

Wow…that’s a hard one, because so much is evolving right now. It would have been impossible to predict that the Navy Band today would be a full-fledged echelon II command, leading 11 bands worldwide, bringing the Navy to the world, especially in places where ships can’t go. This is the biggest change in Navy music since the band’s founding in 1925.

Because so much is still evolving, many more changes are in the band’s future. With that change comes huge responsibility, and I think the entire command is much more aware of the program’s place as Navy ambassadors to the nation and the world. We work for the chief of naval operations to represent the Navy and the United States to the world through music, a medium that transcends all cultural and language barriers. When

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Contact Information: Public Affairs Office The United States Navy Band 617 Warrington Ave. SE Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5054 202-433-3366

you think about it, what better way is there?

What does the future hold for you?

I have no immediate plans for continued employment, mainly because there’s more than enough for me to do around the house that I’ve put aside for several years. I’m looking forward to getting a lot of projects crossed off the home improvement list.

My wife Peggy and I own some land up on the coast of Maine, and we’re hoping to build a vacation home there next summer, so we’re really looking forward to that.

We’re not moving from the Washington area any time soon, so I’ll be seeing my shipmates at some local performances. I have to admit that I’m looking forward to watching the next presidential inaugural parade on TV, from the comfort of my couch! ff

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