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.

Fleet Week in LA -- Navy Band Southwest

This year's Fleet Week in Los Angeles was held over the Labor Day weekend. It was a virtual event, for obvious reasons. 

But the music is quite real.

 

Social Distancing in Seattle

The pandemic may have brought challenges to Navy fleet bands, but one thing is certain: they are not lying idle.

Cancellation of 2020 NMA Reunion

A message from NMA President Dwaine Whitham:

After much thought and consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to cancel the 2020 NMA Reunion in Virginia Beach. We looked at other options, such as postponing the reunion to a later date, but decided it would be in the best interests of our organization and members to cancel the event and start focusing on a great 2021 reunion. The safety, health and welfare of our members remain our biggest priority. We wish you well and look forward to seeing you in 2021!