July/August 2015 w Volume 36 Number 4

Youtube video projectWelcome aboard to our new XO!Spotlight on MUC Adam Tyler

A Message from the Commanding OfficerIt has been my pleasure to lead the wonderful men and women of the

U.S. Navy Band since 2010. This summer I’ll be retiring from the Navy after 35 years of service. Working with the Sailors here in Washington has been a real treat, from touring the nation every year, performing at the White House, marching down Pennsylvania Ave. during the presidential inauguration-- there are too many highlights to recount. I’ll miss this command and these Sailors and their families, but it’s time for me and my family to begin the next chapter in our lives.

My career has taken me all over the world. As a Navy musician, I remember the smiles on the faces of Chamorro children in the Marianas Islands during a concert; I remember performing next to Senegalese drummers in Dakar; I remember (all too well) life aboard USS Mount Whitney, and USS O’Bannon, and USS Barnstable County; I remember leading the NATO band in Italy and performing for the U.S. camps during the war in Kosovo; I remember being the XO at the School of Music and seeing young men and women, our newest generations of musicians, head for the fleet. I remember all of these and so much more.

I’ve performed music on every continent except Antarctica, and I’ve seen firsthand how Navy music benefits our Navy and our nation. Long after I’m gone, Navy musicians will still be all over the world using music to connect with people from all walks of life, and to demonstrate why our Navy is important and what the Navy is doing every day to keep our nation and our allies safe.

I’m going to miss Navy life, but retiring is made a little easier knowing that our Navy bands are in the capable hands of our next generation of leaders. One such leader is Cmdr. Ken Collins. Ken just reported aboard here as executive officer and will, upon my retirement at the end of July, assume the duties of “acting” commanding officer. I’ve worked closely with Ken for the last couple of years during the realignment of Navy music, and I’m confident that the Navy Band will be in capable hands until the CNO selects the next CO.

A heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Christinia Armstrong for her untiring work as our ombudsman. Our Sailors truly benefit from her dedication to this important program. Also, a special thanks to Master Chief Musician Kevin Dines for his incredible support. A true professional, he ensured I was always provided with the best counsel and advice toward success.

Thanks to all of you for your continued and dedicated support of the Navy and Navy bands. Without your support, our Navy wouldn’t be the most capable and powerful Navy in the world.

Brian O. Walden, Captain, USN Commanding Officer/Leader

Volume 36 Number 4Commanding Officer/Leader

CAPT Brian O. Walden

Public Affairs ChiefMUCM Aaron L. Porter

Editorial StaffMUCM Aaron L. PorterMUC Adam K. GrimmMUC Cynthia K. WolvertonMU1 Sarah F. BleckerMU1 Amanda PolychronisMU1 Maia Rodriguez

Layout and DesignMUC Stephen W. HassayMU1 Adrienne W. Moore

PhotographersMUC Brian P. BowmanMUC Stephen W. HassayMU1 James C. AndersonMU1 David B. AspinwallMU1 Jon C. BarnesMU1 Eric A. BrownMU1 Jeremy D. BucklerMU1 Adele D. MayneMU1 David Smith

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

Front Cover: The United States Navy Band performs for the live broadcast of Minnesota Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion” with Garrison Keillor at the Filene Center, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Vienna, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Musician Brian P. Bowman/Released)

fanfare

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COMMODORESMy son and I began our weekend in DC by stopping by Vienna this past Friday evening to hear the Commodores. What a thrill to hear the band! You guys are the best!

-David (Facebook)

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CRUISERSLoved your performance, even though it was cold! Your patriotic medley to close was phenomenal! Great voices, great instrumenta-tion, terrific arrangements. Thanks so much. Please come back next summer. You’re the best.

-Albert (Bethany Beach, Delaware)

Navy Band videos: a social media experimentby Musician 1st Class Maia Rodriguez

We’re always asking our-selves here at the Navy Band “What can we do to

further the mission?” If you look on our website, you’ll read the words, “Through ceremonies, national and regional tours, public concerts and recordings, the U.S. Navy Band inspires patriotism, elevates esprit de corps, enhances Navy aware-ness and public relations, supports recruiting and retention efforts, preserves the Nation’s musical heri-tage and projects a positive image at home and abroad.”

In the past, one way to reach the widest audience was to produce our own compact discs. Music lovers who can’t see the band in person might enjoy popping one into their players.

But times are changing, and technology is advancing. This year, the Navy Band has produced a series of music videos with the primary goal of releasing them on social media.

“The project came about because we’ve seen the response with some of the

(Editor’s note: Musician 1st Class David Miller was asked to transcribe Percy Grainger’s “In Dahomey: Cakewalk Smasher” for the Concert Band’s performances at The Midwest Clinic in 2014. A video of the band performing this transcription will be released this summer on YouTube. For more about this project, read Musician 1st Class Maia Rodriguez’s article in this issue. Miller writes about the challenges of this assignment below.)

The challenge of transcribing a recently discov-ered piece by an undisputed giant in the field of wind ensemble music is a daunting one. None-

theless, the task of bringing Percy Aldridge Grainger’s “In Dahomey: Cakewalk Smasher” to a modern audi-ence has been one of the most rewarding endeavors of my Navy career.

Grainger’s music is instantly recognizable to audiences everywhere. Works such as “Irish Tune from County Derry” and “Molly on the Shore”

rest firmly in the standard repertoire for bands of all levels, and his “Lincolnshire Posy” is one of the true masterpieces for winds. Australian by birth, he quickly established an international reputation as a concert pianist, conductor and composer.

In 1903, Grainger attended an off-Broadway performance of Will Marion Cook’s “In Dahomey,” and he was impressed with the cakewalk dancing of the two lead characters, George Walker and Bert Williams. It should be noted that this musical of Cook’s was the first Broadway production ever to be written by a black composer. Grainger took a theme from Cook’s musical, and began improvising a cakewalk of his own during his piano recitals.

As Grainger’s piece evolved, he added a melody from a foxtrot of Arthur Pryor’s. Pryor was the famous trombone soloist in John Philip Sousa’s band who went on to form his own touring band and to

In Dahomey - A new version of an old favoriteby Musician 1st Class David Miller

Continued on page 5

Musician 1st Class John Armstrong performs Jean-Baptiste Arban’s “The Carnival of Venice” with the U.S. Navy Band during a recording project at the Hylton Center for the Performing Arts in Manassas, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Musician 1st Class Eric Brown/Released)

Continued on page 4

videos we’ve put on YouTube,” says Master Chief Musician Michael J. Schmitz, the producer of the project. “Some of the band’s concert videos have over 100,000 hits. When we do an audio CD, we generally press around 3,000-4,000 copies. But with YouTube, the Internet is how you reach people.”

For two days, the Concert Band-accompanied by the Sea Chanters and a team of audio engineers and videographers-were led by Executive Producer and Commanding Officer Capt. Brian O. Walden and supervised by Schmitz in recording audio tracks and video footage at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia.

Pieces included “Song to the Moon” from Dvorak’s opera, Russalka, featuring soprano soloist Musician 1st Class Susan Kavinski, Percy Grainger’s “In Dahomey: Cakewalk Smasher,” transcribed by Musician 1st Class David J. Miller, “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre, Jean-Baptiste Arban’s “The Carnival of

Venice,” and the Naval Reserve March by John Philip Sousa. “As this year was the 100th anniversary of the Naval Reserve, we felt it was appropriate to record that piece,” explained Musician 1st Class Darrell Fitzpartin, associate producer.

Chief Recording Engineer Chief Musician Brian Bowman explains his part as providing the “mechanical know-how to achieve the producer’s vision of what he wants.” Elaborating, he said, “The producer is like, ‘OK, this is what I want it to sound like.’ You can think of it like a race car driver and a mechanic. The race car driver says, ‘I want it to steer like this,’ and the mechanic makes it happen.”

He also mentioned how much it helped him to have Musician 1st Class Francis DuBois as his “co-pilot,” as he put it.

Video Director Musician 1st Class Eric Brown said, “We had as many as seven GoPros (small remote cameras), and four camera operators. I have to take footage from as many as twelve cameras and edit that down. It’s basically like taking a bunch of Legos and arranging them for your big brother.” Specifically for Miller’s piece, he dedicated one camera to the 5-octave marimba alone. “Getting the coverage is my first priority,” he said.

So when is the big reveal? “The plan is to release the videos throughout the year,” says Schmitz.

I, for one, am looking forward to it. ff

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Navy Band video project continued...

The Concert Band and Sea Chanters perform Eric Whitacre’s “Sleep” during a recording project at the Hylton Center for the Performing Arts in Manassas, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Musician 1st Class Eric Brown/Released)

Musician 1st Class Susan Lewis Kavinski sings “Song to the Moon,” from Dvorak’s opera Russalka, with the U.S. Navy Band during a recording project at the Hylton Center for the Performing Arts in Manassas, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Musician 1st Class Eric Brown/Released)

COMMODORESLast night’s performance was awesome and we look forward to your next visit. Particularly enjoyed your female vocalist and most especially her rendition of Ella Fitzgerald’s “Imagine My Frustration”. Keep up the good work.

-Ellen (Elizabeth City, North Carolina)

compose pieces for his concerts.In 1909, Grainger decided to finally write down a

concert version of his improvised piece. He titled it “In Dahomey: Cakewalk Smasher.” The piece has optional cuts and alternate passages to change its length, depending on the performer’s preference.

By this time, the cakewalk style was no longer as popular as it had been a few years earlier. Grainger put the piece aside, and his manuscript lay in a drawer for 78 years. It was rediscovered in 1987, and was published for the first time that year. Twenty-seven years later, I was asked by the Navy Band to create a transcription for our performances at the 2014 Midwest Clinic.

The band pieces of Percy Grainger have a very recognizable, characteristic sound that I wanted to imitate. I studied his instrumentation and transcription techniques by comparing his piano compositions to their band transcription counterparts, particularly his concert favorite “Shepherd’s Hey.” I noticed the soloistic passages for woodwinds, the thicker sonority of all instruments playing together, and the way in which he wrote the percussion parts. Incorporating these aspects and many more, I attempted to write a version of Grainger’s “In Dahomey” for band in a way that made it sound as though it came from his own hand. This is not the first time this has been done with Grainger’s music; Sousa created a version of Grainger’s “Handel in the Strand” that was performed by his band, with the full approval of the composer.

Throughout the piece, there are passages labeled “clatteringly,” “strumpy, banjolike,” “like a brass band” and many other adjectives. I used these terms

as inspiration for the instruments for which I wrote. How best to make a concert band sound like a banjo? I chose to put the melody in the trombone section with a light accompaniment of woodwinds and brass, and a strong accompaniment in the percussion. The section of music marked “like a brass band” was an easy passage to orchestrate.

As I was creating this new version, I was wary of the opening key signature, F# Major. It’s a key rarely

used for concert band, and I wanted to find a more readable key. But since the middle section of the piece is in F Major, which is used frequently for bands, I decided the best solution was to change the F# passages to G flat, the enharmonic equivalent.

It was at this point that I realized Grainger’s reasoning for using these two key signatures: the music of Cook, the black composer, is performed on the black keys in F#, and the music of Pryor, the white composer, is performed on the white keys in F. I believe that Grainger was attempting to make a musical statement of integration, both musical and societal.

Cook’s melodic cakewalk and rhythmic swagger combined with Pryor’s contrasting bouncy foxtrot show how these disparate styles became the roots for jazz and swing music, which to this day have been vital to bringing musicians together from all ethnic backgrounds. The process of writing this new piece for concert band in the style of such an esteemed composer was demanding, but to have it performed by my talented colleagues was a thrill. We’re planning to release a video of a recent performance of ours; be sure to check the Navy Band’s YouTube channel this summer. ff

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In Dahomey continued...

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Brendler, leader of the Navy Band, right, meets with Percy Grainger, center, and Ens. Richard Townsend, left, in the Washington area during World War II. (U.S. Navy file photo)

COMMODORESJust wanted to compliment you on last eve Commodores concert, it was fantastic!! Loved the new charts and the soloist were out-standing.

-Leo (Baltimore, Maryland)

Performance ScheduleAll 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

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JULYSEA CHANTERSTHURSDAY, JULY 2, 7 P.M.Renfrew Museum1010 E. Main St.Waynesboro, Pa.

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 11 A.M.Independence Day Organ RecitalWashington National Cathedral3101 Wisconsin Ave. NWWashington, D.C.

COMMODORESWEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 7 P.M.Shamrock ParkWilliam A. Humbert Amphitheater39 Hickory Ave.Bel Air, Md.

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 8 P.M.Avalon Theatre40 E. Dover St.Easton, Md.

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 7 P.M.Harris Pavilion9021 Center St.Manassas, Va.

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 6 P.M.Belmont Bay Marina Pavilion570 Harborside St.Woodbridge, Va.

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 5:30 P.M.Fairfax County Government Center12000 Government Center ParkwayFairfax, Va.

COUNTRY CURRENTFRIDAY, JULY 3, 7:30 P.M.Old Town Winchester9 N. Loudoun St.Winchester, Va.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 7 P.M.Springettsbury Township Park Amphitheater1501 Mt. Zion RoadYork, Pa.

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 7 P.M.National Harbor165 Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 7 P.M.Chambersburg Park Memorial Bandshell1 Memorial DriveChambersburg, Pa.

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 7 P.M.Shafer Memorial ParkShafer Park DriveBoonsboro, Md.

COUNTRY CURRENT BLUEGRASS GROUPTHURSDAY, JULY 23, 12 P.M.Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History10th St. and Constitution Ave.Washington, D.C.

CRUISERSTHURSDAY, JULY 2, 7 P.M.Chambersburg Park Memorial Bandshell1 Memorial DriveChambersburg, Pa.

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 7 P.M.Inner HarborLight St. and W. Pratt St.Baltimore, Md.

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 7 P.M.Black Rock Center for the Arts12901 Town Commons DriveGermantown, Md.

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 6:45 P.M.College of Southern MarylandPrince Frederick Campus115 J.W. Williams RoadPrince Frederick, Md.

CHAMBER GROUPSFRIDAY, JULY 3, 11 A.M.BRASS QUARTET“WINDJAMMERS” WOODWIND QUINTETNational Air and Space MuseumIndependence Ave. and 6th St.Washington, D.C.

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 6:30 P.M.BRASS QUINTETRockville Town Square30 Maryland Ave.Rockville, Md.

AUGUSTSEA CHANTERSSATURDAY, AUG. 1, 8 P.M.Rehoboth Beach Bandstand1 Rehoboth Ave.Rehoboth Beach, Del.

THURSDAY, AUG. 6, 7 P.M.War Memorial ParkNorth Tennessee Ave.Martinsburg, W. Va.

CRUISERSWe had such a great time at the cruisers concert! [We] were dancing our hearts out! Thank you for a great time and for your service!

-Aly (Bethany Beach, Delaware)

SATURDAY, AUG. 8, 6:15 P.M.Hagerstown Community College11400 Robinwood DriveHagerstown, Md.

FRIDAY, AUG. 14, 6:30 P.M.Vienna Town Green144 Maple Ave. E.Vienna, Va.

FRIDAY, AUG. 21, 6 P.M.Market Square301 King St.Alexandria, Va.

SATURDAY, AUG. 22, 7 P.M.National Harbor165 Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.

THURSDAY, AUG. 27, 7:30 P.M.National Museum of the Marine Corps18900 Jefferson Davis HighwayTriangle, Va.

COMMODORESTHURSDAY, AUG. 13, 7 P.M.O’Donnell Wharf Lake10400 O’Donnell PlaceWaldorf, Md.

SATURDAY, AUG. 15, 6 P.M.Memorial Park in Town Square22735 Washington St.Leonardtown, Md.

SUNDAY, AUG. 23, 7 P.M.Allen Pond Park3330 Northview DriveBowie, Md.

FRIDAY, AUG. 28, 6:30 P.M.Market Square301 King St.Alexandria, Va.

SATURDAY, AUG. 29, 7:30 P.M.Reston Town Center11911 Freedom DriveReston, Va.

COUNTRY CURRENTSATURDAY, AUG. 15, 7:30 P.M.Bethany Beach Bandstand90 Garfield ParkwayBethany Beach, Del.

THURSDAY, AUG. 20, 7 P.M.Harris Pavilion9021 Center St.Manassas, Va.

SATURDAY, AUG. 22, 8 P.M.Rehoboth Beach Bandstand1 Rehoboth Ave.Rehoboth Beach, Del.

CRUISERSSATURDAY, AUG. 1, 7 P.M.National Harbor165 Waterfront St.National Harbor, Md.

SATURDAY, AUG. 8, 6 P.M.Belle Isle State Park1632 Belle Isle RoadLancaster, Va.

CRUISERS FALL TOURThe Cruisers depart Aug. 18 on a 15-day tour through Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois. The following is a list of tour performances.

TUESDAY, AUG. 18, 7 P.M.Lock 3 Outdoor Covered Stage200 S. Main St.Akron, Ohio

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19, 7 P.M.Toledo Zoo Amphitheater2700 BroadwayToledo, Ohio

THURSDAY, AUG. 20, 7 P.M.Macomb Center for the Performing Arts Main Stage44575 Garfield Rd.Clinton Township, Mich.

FRIDAY, AUG. 21, 7:30 P.M.Dekalb Outdoor Theater301 S. Center St.Auburn, Ind.

SATURDAY, AUG. 22, 7 P.M.Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation3411 Sherman Blvd.Fort Wayne, Ind.

SUNDAY, AUG. 23, 4 P.M.Bronson Park200 S. Rose St.Kalamazoo, Mich.

TUESDAY, AUG. 25, 7 P.M.Montague Band Shell8636 Water St.White Lake, Ind.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 7 P.M.Waterfront Park300 S. WilliamLudington, Mich.

THURSDAY, AUG. 27, 7 P.M.Civic Auditorium1001 Ridge St.La Porte, Ind.

FRIDAY, AUG. 28, 7 P.M.Chicago Navy Pier Landshark Beer Garden600 E. Grand Ave.Chicago, Ill.

SATURDAY, AUG. 29, 5 P.M.Downtown Highland ParkFirst St. and Central Ave.Chicago, Ill.

SUNDAY, AUG. 30, 4 P.M.Barrington High School Auditorium616 W. Main St.Barrington, Ill.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 7 P.M.River Arts Center105 9th St.Prairie du Sac, Wis.

COUNTRY CURRENT FALL TOUR

Country Current departs Aug. 31 on a 16-day tour through Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming. The following is a list of tour performances.

MONDAY, AUG. 31, 11 A.M. ANDTUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 11 A.M.Minnesota State FairWest End Market Stage1311 Cosgrove St.St. Paul, Minn.

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Continued on page 8

CEREMONIAL BANDI think there should be a military band all the time on @prairie_home loving this!!!

-@FloHough (Twitter)

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2, 7 P.M.Tornstrom Auditorium804 Oak St.Brainerd, Minn.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, 7:30 P.M.South Dakota State UniversityPerforming Arts Center1601 11th St.Brookings, S.D.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4, 7:30 P.M.Northern State UniversityAberdeen Civic TheaterAberdeen, S.D.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6, 4 P.M.Belle Mehus City Auditorium210 N. 6th St.Bismarck, N.D.

MONDAY, SEPT. 7, 2 P.M.Medora MusicalMedora, N.D.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 7:30 P.M.Dawson County High School900 N. Kedrick Ave.Glendive, Mont.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 7 P.M.Shrine Auditorium1125 Broadwater Ave.Billings, Mont.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 7 P.M.Heritage Center Theater1635 Reata DriveGillette, Wyo.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 11, 7 P.M.Main Street Square526 Main St.Rapid City, S.D.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 13, 7 P.M.Midwest Theater1707 BroadwayScottsbluff, Neb.

MONDAY, SEPT. 14, 7:30 P.M.Buchanam Center for the Performing Arts Concert HallUniversity of Wyoming1000 E. University Ave.Laramie, Wyo.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 15, 7 P.M.Cheyenne Civic Center510 W. 20th St.Cheyenne, Wyo.

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COMMODORESSaw the Commodores last night in Lovettsville, VA. Loved it! Hope they and the other Navy will come to Lovettsville (again)!

-Colleen (Facebook)

2015 SUMMER CONCERT SCHEDULEMONDAYS, JULY 6 - AUG. 31, 8 P.M.U.S. CAPITOL(WEST SIDE) July 6, Country Current 13, Commodores 20, Country Current 27, Concert Band Aug. 3, Concert Band 10, Concert Band 17, Concert Band 24, Concert Band 31, Concert Band

TUESDAYS, JULY 7 - SEPT. 1, 7:30 P.M.U.S. NAVY MEMORIAL701 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NWJuly 7, Commodores 14, Country Current 21, Concert on the Avenue 28, Concert on the AvenueAug. 11, Concert on the Avenue 18, Concert Band 25, Concert BandSept. 1, Concert Band

THURSDAYS, JULY 18 - AUG. 20, 8 P.M.U.S. CAPITOL(WEST SIDE) July 30, Sea Chanters Aug. 20, Commodores

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The entire Navy music program mourns the passing of retired Chief Musician Richard N. Bain. Bain had the unique reputation of being a harmonica soloist with the Navy Band. He started playing the harmonica as a boy in his home town of Westboro, Massachusetts, and at the age of 15 was invited by Borrah Minovitch to tour the country with his “Harmonica Rascals.”

He joined the Navy in January 1945 and, after a three-year enlistment, returned to civilian life playing with Fred Waring and Kay Kyser on NBC. He also appeared with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Buffalo and New England Philharmonic orchestras.

During the Korean conflict Bain was recalled to the Navy and joined the U.S. Navy Band, becoming the first harmonica soloist ever assigned to a major service band. While with the band, he played for several heads of state including the Queen of England, Prince Phillip and King Saud of Saudi Arabia. The Eisenhower White House also requested his talents, and one of his most memorable assignments was entertaining the president, Mrs. Eisenhower and their family on their 42nd wedding anniversary during a boat trip down the Potomac River.

Bain retired from the band in 1971 to accept the

position of band/festival coordinator for Walt Disney World, responsible for presenting selected performing groups and coordinating special events. In 1974, he returned to Washington to help organize the U.S. Armed Forces Bicentennial Band, and served as their director of public relations. Later, he became deputy director of ceremonies and special activities for the Department of Memorial Affairs, and helped produce the opening ceremonies for President Reagan’s first inaugural. He continued to perform on the harmonica, appearing as a soloist with the Navy Band on their 50th anniversary concert in 1975, and with the Boston Pops Orchestra.

He is survived by his wife Pat, and son Michael.

IN MEMORIAM

Retired Chief Musician Richard Bain 1926-2015

The entire Navy music program mourns the passing of retired Chief Musician Richard B. Davis, who died on May 25, 2015. Born in Trucksville, Pennsylvania, Davis was a versatile musician. He sang in church beginning at age 4, and was studying piano by the age of 9. While he was in high school, he learned to play the clarinet and tenor saxophone.

He graduated from Patton Masonic School for Boys in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, receiving a diploma in carpentry. After attending Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, with a scholarship

in music education, he enlisted in the Navy and attended basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. From May to August, 1959, he completed the Naval School of Music basic course and, at the request of a friend, successfully auditioned for the Navy Band Sea Chanters. During his time with the band he performed at the Kennedy Center, the Berlin wall and on President Eisenhower’s good will tour of Brazil. He retired in June 1978.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary, and one daughter, Amy.

Retired Chief Musician Richard B. Davis, 1936-2015

Chief Musician Richard Bain

COUNTRY CURRENTI was blown away by the talent and energy of Country Current whey they performed this Saturday at the Benson Hammond House Strawberry Festival. The cover of Roving Gambler was especially awesome!

-Oliver (Facebook)

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Congratulations to... MU1 Benjamin Bransford, Sailor of the Quarter, and

MUC Rob Holmes, Senior Enlisted of the Quarter.

Fair winds and following seas to... MUCM Michael McDonald, who retired from the Navy Band after 29 years of service. McDonald served

as principal clarinetist, concert master and concert band unit leader. Upon his retirement, he received the Meritorious Service Medal.

Welcome aboard to... Musicians 1st Class Francis DuBois, audio engineer; Chelsi Ervien, alto vocalist with the Sea Chanters; Joseph Gonzalez, percussionist with the Concert/Ceremonial Band, and Tyler Worosello, clarinetist with the Concert/Ceremonial Band.

In April, the Navy Band welcomed

aboard our new executive officer, Cmdr. Kenneth Collins. Collins joins the band after 26 years of significant accom-plishment as an enlisted percus-sionist and a com-missioned band-master with Navy bands all over the world.

A native of Reno, Nevada, Collins

is a graduate of that city’s Wooster High School, and of the University of Nevada-Reno, receiving a bachelor’s degree in music education. He enlisted in the Navy in 1989, and after attending the Naval School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia, was assigned to Navy bands in Guam and Newport, Rhode Island. He was commissioned an ensign in 1998, and was assigned to the U.S. Navy Band as the administrative officer for the Concert/Ceremonial Band. From there, he served at the U.S. Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, Maryland, Navy Band Northwest in Silverdale, Washington, U.S.

Pacific Fleet Band in Honolulu, Navy Band Southeast in Jacksonville, Florida, and at the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band in Naples, Italy. Before reporting to the Navy Band, he served as the head of Navy Music/Fleet Band Activities in Millington, Tennessee. During his time in the fleet he attended the University of Illinois, receiving a master’s degree in conducting, and Hawaii Pacific University, graduating with a master’s degree in business administration.

Collins’ assignment to the Navy Band comes at a particularly auspicious moment in the history of the Navy music. As was reported in the November/December 2014 issue of Fanfare, the Navy music program has recently undergone a major realignment, with all Navy music assets being aligned as field activities of the U.S. Navy Band. As director of Fleet Band Activities, Collins worked very closely with the band’s commanding officer, Capt. Walden, to make sure this reorganization was realized as smoothly as possible. As one might imagine, a major change of this sort takes time to fully come to reality, and there are still many details being sorted out. We’re especially lucky to have Collins here as XO during this time, and we’re also very fortunate that he will be our acting CO when Capt. Walden retires in July.

The music program is looking forward to the leadership, experience and direction our new XO will bring to this effort, and as we wish fair winds and following seas to Capt. Walden, we know the entire program is in good hands with the commander at the helm. Welcome aboard, sir! ff

Welcome aboard to Cmdr. Ken Collins, Navy Band’s new XOby Master Chief Musician Aaron Porter

Cmdr. Ken Collins

COMMODORESThank you to the Commodores for coming to Lovettsville, VA last night. My kids loved the music and the performers. Everyone was very impressed, and it was great to spend a patriotic night with a large contingent of the community.

-Kevin (Facebook)

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Spotlight on...Chief Musician Adam Tylerby Chief Musician Cynthia Wolverton

Fans of the Navy Band Sea Chanters will certainly recognize baritone vocalist Chief Musician Adam Tyler for his role in the ever-popular quartet renditions of “Twelve Days of Christmas” and “Jersey Boys.” He has been delighting Navy Band audiences for 15 years and is now the unit leader of the Navy’s official chorus.

Tell us about your musical background.I come from a very artistic family and music has

always been part of my life. My dad sang and played guitar in a bluegrass band with my aunt and my stepmom while I was growing up. When I was in college he shifted his focus from music to sculpting. He continues to make a living doing public art in the Southwest region of the U.S. My uncle is an actor, director and playwright. At the age of 8, I started playing piano by ear. I began taking lessons from my aunt when I was 10 and then started singing when I was 12. I continued pursuing both voice and piano throughout high school. My aunt was a beginning-intermediate piano teacher, so I eventually “outgrew” her and had to find a more advanced classically-trained teacher. At the end of my senior year my piano teacher told me I had to make a decision about whether I was going to study voice or piano. She insisted that I couldn’t “seriously” pursue both and must choose one. That made absolutely no sense to me, so I ignored her advice! I went on to major in voice at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff while keeping my piano skills sharp by playing for voice lessons and recitals. My freshman year I got a job as a singing waiter and playing piano at Black Bart’s Steakhouse & Musical Revue. It was there that I met and became friends with alto vocalist Chief Musician Beth Revell and pianist Musician 1st Class Caroline Evans, who I would later actively recruit to audition for the Sea Chanters. My first love has always been the theater. I was in my first musical when I was 12 and I was hooked. I continued to do plays, musicals and opera throughout my high school and college career. I continued doing theater, both regionally and professionally, for a couple years

after graduation. Unfortunately, I had to stop when I joined the Navy, as our schedule does not allow for the rehearsal time and run of a show. I do miss it from time to time.

You currently serve as unit leader for the Sea Chanters. Tell us a little about this role.

I have been the unit leader for a little more than two years now. Like any job, there are good and bad days. Being responsible for everything that happens in the unit and for the well-being of 22 Sailors, I’ve learned you have to be pretty thick-skinned to be a leader and take everything in stride. If you had told me 15 years ago when I started at the Navy Band that I would someday hold this position, I would have said, “You’re crazy!” Overall, it’s a great group to be in charge of. I am consistently in awe of the amount of talent contained in our group and what we are capable of accomplishing, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Share two or three highlights during your time with the band.

That’s tough! We’ve been a part of so many amazing things over the course of my career. First would probably be singing for President Obama’s first inauguration. This was such a groundbreaking historical event and we were honored to be a part of it. Second would be singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in New York City. Standing in the middle of the football field for an event of that magnitude and singing for that many people was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. And finally, travelling to Hawaii to sing for the premiere of the movie “Pearl Harbor.” This happened very early in my first enlistment. The Sea Chanters were invited by Disney to take part

Chief Musician Adam Tyler

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in this event. The premiere took place on the deck of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and we performed with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra as part of the opening and closing ceremony. They flew in survivors of the bombing to see the film. We were also able to meet country singer Faith Hill and a few of the film’s actors. It was a great experience and will probably never happen again during my time here.

How has the Navy Band evolved during your time here?I joined the Navy in 2000. Since then, the Navy

Band has changed quite a bit. However, the thing I’ve noticed the most is the improvement in overall

musical quality and talent. Not only in my unit, but command-wide. When we’re holding auditions to fill an opening, we always strive to hire someone better than the last person we hired.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?I got married a little over a year ago and we bought

a house. Having said that, I think it’s safe to say that most of my spare time is spent adjusting to married life, doing projects around the house and taking care of our recently acquired dog. ff

Spotlight continued...