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United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants

CJ Replay: The Singing Sergeants of the U.S. Air Force

May 4, 2020 by Amanda Bumgarner Leave a Comment

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The November 2019 issue of Choral Journal features an article titled “The Singing Sergeants of the U.S. Air Force: A Career Path for Singers” by Technical Sgt. Jilian McGreen. You can read it in its entirety online at acda.org/choraljournal. Click “Search Archives” and choose November 2019 from the dropdown menu.
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Right now, United States Military musicians are stationed throughout the world, using their musical skills to serve our country. The wide range of ensembles includes rock bands, jazz bands, concerts bands, and, yes, choruses. Choral musicians at every level should know about the opportunities that exist for them in each branch of the U.S. Military. In the U.S. Air Force, this opportunity is called the Singing Sergeants.

The Singing Sergeants, the official chorus of the U.S. Air Force, is one of six ensembles under the umbrella of the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. The eighteen-member chorus has been permanently stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling since its inception in 1945. Initially an all male group, in 1973 the Singing Sergeants became the first American military chorus to enlist women. The group strives to fulfill the mission of the United States Air Force Band: to honor those who have served, inspire Americans to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact our global community.

Honoring Veterans

The Singing Sergeants honors veterans through more than 200 public performances each year in the Capital region and across the country. The chorus embarks on several tours each year to different regions of the country, performing in a variety of venues including concert halls, sporting arenas, theatres, high schools, and community centers. Repertoire for these concerts includes traditional choral selections, music from Broadway shows, pop tunes, holiday favorites, and patriotic selections. Each concert ends with patriotic music and a medley of the armed forces service songs during which veterans in the audience stand to be recognized by their community. Chorus members often have the opportunity to speak with veterans before and after performances, thanking them for their service and hearing about their experiences in the military.

We also honor America’s veterans on locally- and nationally-broadcast television events commemorating patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Independence Day. The group has been seen on the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks broadcast as well as the PBS National Memorial Day Concert.

Additionally, the chorus performs for groups of veterans visiting Washington, D.C. Through the Honor Flight Network, veterans from around the country visit our nation’s capital to see the memorials dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifices of themselves and their comrades. As part of each visit, Honor Flights are welcomed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling for a performance highlighting repertoire from the World War II, Vietnam, and Korean War eras.
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Read the rest of this article (and more!) in the November 2019 issue of Choral Journal, available online at acda.org.

Filed Under: Choral Journal Tagged With: ACDA Membership Benefits, ACDA Publications, Choral Journal, CJ Replay, United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants

Attention to Some Military Bands and Choir

May 29, 2019 by ACDA Leave a Comment

We just celebrated another Memorial Day and we think of those who serve our country around the earth and here at home.  As the host of Going Beyond Words and ACDA Radio with ChoralNet, I love to play patriotic music and when you want that style we all know where to go.  But this year I decided to play recordings by some of our best Military Bands and Choirs that are not Patriotic and then on July 4th do another Salute to our Country.   But this Salute is to the musicianship in these musical organizations…… ….so…..On this broadcast, you will hear the United States Navy Band and Sea Chanters, The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus and the United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants.   Your next listening hour includes seventeen different compositions and except for two, all the creators are from America.  Used as a theme, in this case, was “The Liberty Bell March” by Sousa offered by the Washington Winds………..Some of the composers are…..Z. Randall Stroope and his “Passages” with words from Walt Whitman’s “O Captian!, My Captian!”, Mozart’ familiar Opera duet- “Papageno”, Sigmund Romberg, Ward Swingle, Aaron Copland, a Spiritual by Moses Hogan, a beautiful Folk Lullaby by John Rutter “Black Sheep”, “A Hymn for America” by Stephen Paulus, a folk song by Norman Luboff,  a Dolly Parton tune arranged by Craig Hella Johnson, John Paul White, Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields and A Jubilant Song with words of Walt Whitman set to music by René Clausen.  Listen to what these talented musicians offer.   Those of you who went to the ACDA in KC will remember a tune or two from the USAF Band and Singing Sergeants from their new CD “Finding North”.  You will hear six selections from that disc.  Enjoy your time thinking ahead and concert planning, we are proud of what you do for choral music.

For a look at the CD’s used and a complete list of music heard, go to the blog of WWW.GOINGBEYONDWORDS.COM website and click on show 2531.

https://choralnet.org/wp-content/uploads/going-beyond-words/2531.mp3

Filed Under: Going Beyond Words Tagged With: ACDA Radio, United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants

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