Whether you’re home all day enjoying the holiday with family and friends or your orchestra is putting on a performance today, try to take a few moments to remember the reason for the holiday. Furthermore, take a moment to remember that the single largest employer of full-time professional musicians is the United States Armed Forces…
[ilink url=”http://www.usafband.com/” style=”tick”]The United States Air Force Band[/ilink]
[ilink url=”http://www.army.mil/armyband/” style=”tick”]The United States Army Band[/ilink]
[ilink url=”http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/” style=”tick”]“The Presidents Own” United States Marine Band[/ilink]
[ilink url=”http://www.navyband.navy.mil/” style=”tick”]The United States Navy Band[/ilink]
[ilink url=”http://www.uscg.mil/band/” style=”tick”]The United States Coast Guard Band[/ilink]
And let’s not forget the 7th Army Symphony, a State Dept. propaganda outfit lasting about 10 years ’52-’62 in Europe, programming Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, Copland, Creston, Barber, Menotti, just to name some of the music played. Unlike the service bands mostly stationed in DC with automatic sergeancy (petty officer), housing allowance, pension and medical benefits, the 7ASO were mostly drafted guys lucky enough to serve playing concerts for Europeans during the Korean War and after before returning to civilian life playing in professional orchestras. Only later did many of us realize how great an experience it was!
And let’s not forget the 7th Army Symphony, a State Dept. propaganda outfit lasting about 10 years ’52-’62 in Europe, programming Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, Copland, Creston, Barber, Menotti, just to name some of the music played. Unlike the service bands mostly stationed in DC with automatic sergeancy (petty officer), housing allowance, pension and medical benefits, the 7ASO were mostly drafted guys lucky enough to serve playing concerts for Europeans during the Korean War and after before returning to civilian life playing in professional orchestras. Only later did many of us realize how great an experience it was!