Celebrating the Holidays With the U.S. Navy Band (photos)
By • December 24, 2019 0 4161
The United States Navy Band presented another of its highly entertaining annual holiday concerts at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., giving three performances on Dec. 21 and 22.
Featured along with the Concert Band were the Sea Chanters, the Navy’s official chorus; Country Current, the Navy’s top country-bluegrass ensemble; and the Cruisers, the Navy’s premier popular music group. Of course, there was also a visit from Santa. (Who knew Santa could play the trumpet so well?)
The Navy Band has officially been in existence since 1925, though musical groups of one form or another have been around informally almost as long as the Navy itself. They trace their roots to the sea shanty, a type of work song once commonly sung to accompany labor onboard ship, and from which the band’s official chorus takes its name.
The band’s 170 members and 11 ensembles perform over 1,300 concerts a year all over the world, including the popular Concerts on the Avenue series every summer at Navy Memorial Plaza. Navy Band concerts are free and open to the public.
Military bands perform at parades, presidential inaugurations, state funerals and a variety of other events and ceremonies across the nation. They honor those who have served our country and inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service.
Many of our armed forces’ “elite” musical units are based in the D.C. metropolitan area, making the military one of the largest employers of musicians in and around Washington. In addition to the Navy Band, these include the United States Marine Band “The President’s Own,” the United States Air Force Band and the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” The United States Coast Guard Band is based in New London, Connecticut, but makes frequent appearances in the District.
View Jeff Malet’s photos from the 2019 U.S. Navy Band Holiday Concert by clicking on the photo icons below.
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- The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters perform “Joy to the Worldl” at their annual Holiday Concert at DAR Constitution Hall. Photo by Jeff Malet.
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- Musician 1st Class Madilyn Crossland and Chief Musician William F. Edwards (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters perform their full rendition of The Drifters’ White Christmas! Left to right in photo are Chief Musician Michael A. Webb, Chief Musician William Edwards, Chief Musician Benjamin Bransford and Senior Chief Musician Michael Belinkie. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Musician 1st Class Danlie Cuenca; Musician 1st Class Chelsi N. Vanderpol; Musician 1st Class Maia Rodriguez; Musician 1st Class Sarah L. Tietsort; and Musician 1st Class Cory A. Parker. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Musician 1st Class Maia Rodriguez and the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters perform “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The United States Navy Band under the leadership of Capt. Kenneth C. Collins performs at its annual Holiday Concert featuring members from all of the Navy Band’s ensembles at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Musician 1st Class Danlie Cuenca (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Chief Musician Casey Campbel and Musician 1st Class Maia Rodriguez (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Members of the U.S. Navy Band bring holiday cheer: Musicians 1st Class Danlie Cuenca, Chelsi N. Vanderpol, Maia Rodriguez and Sarah L. Tietsort. Photo by Jeff Malet.
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- Musician 1st Class Sarah L. Tietsort (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Chief Musician Shana L. Sullivan sings “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” with the United States Navy Band Country Current. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Musician 1st Class Haley Stiltner performs with the United States Navy Band Country Current. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Senior Chief Musician Patrick J. White performs on the fiddle with the United States Navy Band Country. He has been with the group since 1995. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The United States Navy Band Country Current is the Navy’s premier country-bluegrass ensemble. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Senior Chief Musician Courtney Williams has the proud distinction of being the “Voice of the Navy” and was heard worldwide as the announcer at presidential inauguration ceremonies. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Santa requests permission to board. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Santa makes an appearance and joins in with a rendition of “Bugler’s Holiday by Leroy Anerson. Photo by Jeff Malet.
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- The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters perform their full rendition of The Drifters’ White Christmas! Left to right in photo are Chief Musician Michael A. Webb, Chief Musician William Edwards, Chief Musician Benjamin Bransford and Senior Chief Musician Michael Belinkie. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Chief Musician Michael A. Webb and Musician 1st Class Chelsi Vanderpol sing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Musician 1st Class Amy Nicole Broadbent sings “O Holy Night.” (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Chief Musician Shana L. Sullivan sings the finale “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” (photo by Jeff Malet)
