The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Patriotic songs open concert season
The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus perform at The Grove
An above average crowd gathered on the lawn of The Grove in Mayfield Village to watch the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus perform.
During the June 25 concert, The Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus performed a medley of American music ranging from patriotic favorites such as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America” to Broadway show tunes and movie soundtracks.
The Chorus also performed songs acapella.
The concert began with the national anthem with presentation of flags done by Boy Scout Troop 289.
Col. Jim Keene, the director for the band and the chorus, encouraged audience participation as the band played a tribute to the iconic Barnum and Bailey Circus which ended its 146-year run in May. Keene signaled for the audience to ohh and ahh as if they were watching trapeze artists performing while the band played the song.
The concert ended with the Armed Forces Medley Salute in which veterans in the audience were recognized and saluted as they stood when the song for their branch of service was performed followed by “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The audience gave a standing ovation and demanded an encore for which the band performed the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Mayfield Village Mayor Brenda Bodnar, who introduced the band, said it was a privilege to kick off the 2018 summer concert series with this performance.
“We all know that the United States Army defends us and protects our freedoms everyday in every corner of the world and for that we are truly thankful,” Bodnar said during her introduction. “But tonight, we have a unique opportunity to witness the musical talent of these professional musicians who also travel the world. Tonight, we are most honored to them in Mayfield Village and we look forward to a world-class performance showcasing and celebrating all that is best in our United States of America.”
The band is described by Master Sergeant Erica Russo, as one in which everyone had auditioned for prior to their basic training.
Russo said that almost everyone who performs with the band or chorus has at least a bachelor’s degree in music, and many have masters degrees and there are even some with doctorate degrees. Russo who is originally from Columbus, completed her undergraduate study in music at Florida State University and graduate school at Ohio State University before joining the Army in 2001.
She called it “a fantastic opportunity” to represent soldiers across the entire Army and bring their stories to the American communities.
“It’s a real honor to be asked to do this job and be able to represent soldiers who are fighting for our freedoms around the world,” Russo said.
The Army Field Band performs anywhere from grade school gynmasium to some of the great concert halls throughout the world, according to Russo. They do a lot of educational outreach when on tour, visiting school children and working with them on their musical training, but their primary job is outreach to the American public.
According to Russo, members of the group will go to colleges and high schools to do recitals or master classes where they can work one on one with students. And some times they have the opportunity to perform with the students and often times inviting them to perform with the band on stage during one of the marches.
The highlight of each performance for Russo is singing the Armed Forces Medley Salute.