Navy Band Sea Chanters holding free concert tonight at 7 p.m.

West Memphis high school selected for U.S. Navy’s official chorus national tour stop

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus will perform a free concert this evening beginning at 7 p.m. at the Academies of West Memphis Performing Arts Center, 501 W. Broadway.

All U.S. Navy Band performances are free and open to the public, though some concerts may require ticket reservations. For the most up-to-date ticket information, visit the Navy Band’s website at www.navyband.navy.mil The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters is the official chorus of America’s Navy. The ensemble performs a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, including sea chanteys and patriotic fare, to opera, Broadway and contemporary music. The Sea Chanters chorus is frequently found at the center of highprofile national events. At home in Washington, D.C., the group performs for the president, vice president, and numerous congressional, military and foreign dignitaries.

One of the U.S. Navy Band’s primary responsibilities involves touring the country. All of the band’s primary performing units embark each year on concert tours throughout specified regions of the country, allowing the band to reach audiences in areas of the country that do not have opportunities to see the Navy's premier musical ensembles on a regular basis.

The concerts are familyfriendly events, meant to be entertaining to veterans, families, individuals and those interested in joining the Navy.

'For many years, Navy bands have been where it matters, when it matters, just like the rest of our Navy,” said Capt.

Kenneth Collins, U.S. Navy Band commanding officer.

“Today, we have Sailors performing around the world, improving relations with our allies abroad as well as telling the Navy story here at home.'

Quick Facts

• The U.S. Navy Band is the flagship musical organization of the Navy and one of 11 Navy bands located around the world.

• The U.S. Navy Band is based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.·

• The Navy Band has been touring the country since 1925.

• There are six performing ensembles in the Navy Band: the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Sea Chanters chorus, the Commodores jazz ensemble, Country Currents (a country and bluegrass ensemble) and Tthe Cruisers (a group that specializes in popular music).

• Ensembles from the Navy Band tour nationally 12-15 weeks each year. Sailors in the Navy Band are full-time professional musicians.

• Almost all of the Sailors in the Navy Band have undergraduate degrees in music, and most have graduate degrees.

You can learn more about the Sea Chanters, the U.S. Navy Band and the U.S. Navy on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Concert performances can be found on YouTube and the Navy Band web site. www.navyband.navy.mil.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy Band