One of the best things about living in south eastern Connecticut, is the ability to drive a short distance and see the magnificent U.S. Coast Guard Band's live performances. Stationed in New London, on the campus of the Coast Guard Academy, the band is unique in being the only branch of the military whose band is not stationed in Washington, D.C.
My husband and I feel privileged to have attended many of these quality performances. Led by Conductor and Chief Warrant Officer Richard Wyman, the "band" looks more like a symphony orchestra. When I tell people I've been to one of the free concerts at Leamy Hall, they often assume I like marching music. This is not marching music. Yes, they play the Star Spangled Banner, and Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard's official marching song, but that is only the first few minutes of the performance. After that, we have enjoyed jazz, rag, Broadway tunes, and so much more.
We always look forward to hearing Soprano, MU1 Megan Weikleenget sing. We've heard her sing "Defying Gravity" from Wicked; "Mambo Italiano" by Bob Merrill, and yesterday a moving rendition of "Lua Descolorida" by Osvaldo Golijov. Megan never disappoints! She excels in every genre.
Another surprise most people don't know about, is that the band sometimes has guest performances. A year ago, we saw Doc Severinson perform with the band. We both remembered him from his days as band leader on the Johnny Carson show. What great fun it was to see him again, hear him play the trumpet as well as he did as a young man, and listen to his stories.
Yesterday's concert theme was "Winter Heat." The band performed seven pieces, beginning with Steve Danyew's "Vermont State Fair." The concert hall was filled with a delightful mix of lilting flutes and reverberating base tones. "Rusty Air in Carolina," by Mason Bates, used electronic sounds controlled from a lap top, to replicate the sounds of katydids and locusts singing. Clarinetist, MUC Chantal Hovendick shined in her performance of Scott McAllister's "Black Dog: Rhapsody for Clarinet."
Attending a Coast Guard Band performance is a great way to show support for our troops. In addition to enjoying their concert performance, audience members become privileged witnesses of the awards presented to the elite band members for their service. Upcoming performances at Leamy Hall include: Chamber Players Recital on April 2nd; Captain Lews J. Buckley Guest Conductor Concert on April 23rd; and Guardians Big Band on May 7th. All are Sunday performances at 2:00 p.m. At Fort Trumbull, where you will sit in your lawn chair overlooking the Thames River and Gold Star Memorial Bridge, there will be a Memorial Day concert on May 28th at 1:00 p.m.
I hope you find time to fit New London's U.S. Coast Guard Band in to your busy schedule. You'll be glad you did.
Laura S. Pringle is the author of The Pringle Plan, a series of educational guides.
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©2016 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.
