What's On Your Plate?

Members of the Navy Musicians Association are always looking for ways to promote our organization. Many of us continue to wear our NMA shirts when we return home after a reunion. I wear my ball cap to outdoor concerts throughout the summer.

But, Dennis Bear stands above the crowd. This Wisconsinite's pride in his NMA membership is on display wherever he goes, all year long.

Dennis doesn't keep his
NMA membership secret.

MCMILLAN SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE EXTENDED

From the coordinator of the O.L. MCMILLAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND:

Although our NMA Annual Reunion has been canceled for 2021, our Scholarship Fund competition will remain active!

------------ ONE CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR, 2021 -------------

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION IS EXTENDED TO MAY 1, 2021.

Cancellation of 2021 Reunion

From the NMA Board of Directors: 

We promised that if we had to cancel the June, 2021 reunion, we’d put out the word at the earliest possible time. 

That time is now. After weighing the heartbreak of skipping another get-together against the real dangers of the pandemic, the NMA Board of Directors has decided to cancel this year’s reunion. 

We can’t predict the pandemic’s course, but we know we must steer clear of it. The safety, health, and welfare of our members remain our top priority. 

Stay safe. Stay in touch with your shipmates. If you have a buddy who doesn’t use social media, pass the word. And if you’ve already booked your room at the hotel, be sure to cancel the reservation.

A Swinging Veterans Day

The premiere bands of our military's music programs joined forces for an online Armed Services Medley. Not all of the bands' personnel are playing, of course; just enough to create a virtual big band whose sound is far from "virtual."

 

Celebrate the 245th Navy Birthday With Navy Band Southwest's Fleet Week Concert--and Multi-Service Finale

Navy bands have always faced obstacles. Scheduling errors, grounded airplanes, inadequate lodging, concerts before hostile audiences in foreign ports on stages the size of coffee tables--everything goes wrong, but the show goes on. 

Today's bands are adapting as never before to meet the vital concerns about our national health, unleashing new technologies to meet the challenges of concerts, ceremonies, Fleet Weeks, and Navy Birthday celebrations. 

Navy Band Southwest's participation in San Francisco's Fleet Week, leading up to the 245th Navy Birthday, showed that performances may be virtual, but the music and spirit are real.

 

A Career as a Navy Musician

 

CDR Mark Corbliss, CO, Naval School of Music and MUC Jason Ayoub of the US Navy Band discuss life as a Navy musician: auditioning, training, promotion. Warning: it looks so enticing that you may want to audition.

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Welcome to Boot Camp

Some things are different. Sneakers. Tee shirts. Women.

But, aside from those minor details, the experience hasn't changed a bit.

Welcome to 21st-century boot camp.