January/February 2015 w Volume 36 Number 1

Concert Band and Sea Chanters ToursInternational Saxophone SymposiumSpotlight on MUC Dawn Henry

A Message from the Commanding Officer

2014 was another banner year for the Navy Band, and we finished strong with great performances at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and two fantastic holiday concerts at Constitution Hall in Wash-

ington. It was only the second time in recent history that we were able to send five different groups on tour. We played the national anthem at the Super Bowl with opera superstar Renee Fleming. We brought back the Navy birthday concert, bigger and better than ever before. We were on hand for 20 performances at the Star-Spangled Spectacular in Balti-more, celebrating the bicentennial of our national anthem. These were just some of the big shows we did. I can’t say enough about the quality of work that musicians here produce day in and day out, all year long.

We get to start off the new year in a great way with the return of the International Saxophone Symposium. We’ll be welcoming guests Vincent David, James Houlik, Michael Ibrahim and the Miami Saxophone Quartet. There were a record number of proposals, so we have a weekend jam packed with great music and clinics.

Our first national concert tours of the year start Feb. 16. The Concert Band and Sea Chanters are doing two separate tours, but will come together for 9 joint concerts. While we’ve sent multiple groups on tour together, this is the first time we have had two separate tour groups meet on the road to perform together. We’re looking forward to breaking new ground.

As always, thank you for your support of the Navy Band and Navy music. We would not be able to do what we do without you.

Brian O. Walden, Captain, USN Commanding Officer/Leader

Volume 36 Number 1Commanding Officer/Leader

CAPT Brian O. WaldenPublic Affairs ChiefMUCM Aaron L. Porter

Editorial StaffMUCM Aaron L. PorterMUC Adam K. GrimmMUC Cynthia K. WolvertonMU1 Sarah F. BleckerMU1 Amanda Polychronis

Layout and DesignMUC Stephen W. HassayMU1 Adrienne W. Moore

PhotographersMUC Brian P. BowmanMUC Stephen W. HassayMU1 James C. AndersonMU1 David B. AspinwallMU1 Eric A. BrownMU1 Jeremy D. BucklerMU1 Adele D. Mayne

fanfare is a bi-monthly magazine published by the U.S. Navy Band public affairs staff.

Front Cover: Chief Musician John Schroeder plays taps during a memorial service for legendary editor of The Washington Post, Ben Bradlee at Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday Oct. 29, 2014, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Matt McClain/ The Washington Post)

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COMMODORESI was fortunate enough to see the U.S. Navy Band Commodores at Southington High School in Southington CT on Veteran’s Day 2014. They absolutely blew me away. I can’t say enough about how impressed I was with this unbelievably talented group. Thank you to the U.S. Navy for sharing this treasure with the public. PLEASE SEND THEM OUR WAY AGAIN!

-Gerri (Southington, Connecticut)

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Continued on page 6

COUNTRY CURRENTOutstanding pickin’ tonight at WoodSongs [in Lexington, Kentucky]. Thrilled to be in the second row!

-Dodie (Facebook)

Separate and yet combined: a look at the Concert Band and Sea Chanters spring toursby Musician 1st Class Sarah Blecker

As we begin a new year, we once again look ahead toward our spring tours. As in the past, the Concert Band and Sea Chanters will

depart in February for their annual tours, each spend-ing approximately three weeks on the road. Both ensembles will be traveling the Southeast region of the country, making stops in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

While the Concert Band and Sea Chanters usually tour the same region during the same time frame, their concert stops have always been separate from each other. This year, however, things will be a little different: the ensembles will begin their respective tours separately, meet in the middle to present combined concerts and then part ways to finish their travels. This isn’t the first time that ensembles in the Navy Band have joined forces on the road. Ten years

ago the Concert Band, Sea Chanters and Cruisers toured together to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the U.S. Navy Band, taking our popular summer series, “Concerts on the Avenue,” on the road.

The Concert Band will begin their tour Feb. 16 in Glen Allen, Virginia, and the Sea Chanters will depart Feb. 20 for their first concert in Henderson, North Carolina. As they make their way south, the two groups will meet in Florida and present eight joint concerts throughout the state before parting company to reach more communities. They will perform one final joint concert in Columbia, South Carolina.

For a complete listing of tour stops, see the performance schedule on page 4-5. For more detailed concert information and how to acquire your free tickets visit us on our website at www.navyband.navy.mil/National_Tour.shtml.

Why do you want to go to the U.S. Navy Band’s International Saxophone Sympo-sium? As an oboe player charged with

marketing the conference, this question is definitely one that I ponder. Now of course, I’ve discussed the importance of the symposium with my saxophone-playing colleagues and they have great reasons for saxophone players or those aspiring to be saxophone players to come.

“It’s very inspiring to hear so many incredible saxophonists performing at the top of their game,” said Musician 1st Class David Babich. “Hearing these performances recharges my batteries and makes me want to work harder. I also get to hear many different compositions. It’s easy for studios to get locked into performing certain types of repertoire, but the sax symposium lets me hear lots of other music from students across the country that I would likely not hear otherwise.”

Similarly, Musician 1st Class Dana Booher says, “I first attended the Navy Band Saxophone

Symposium while an undergraduate student at Indiana University. I was blown away by the amount of wonderful music I heard - so many wonderful performances by so many incredible artists. It was hugely inspirational to me - being able to meet and listen to musicians I had only known by name made a major impact on my career.

“After listening to saxophonists from various parts of the country and world, playing in different styles

Why Saxophone Symposium?by Musician 1st Class Joshua Arvizu

Performance ScheduleAll concerts are FREE and open to the public. Tickets or reservations are not required unless noted (*). Please note that all concert information is accurate at time of publication, though subject to change due to weather and other conditions. For inclement weather announcements, please call 202-433-2525 or visit www.twitter.com/usnavyband. For the most up-to-date information, please check our online performance calendar at: www.navyband.navy.mil

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JANUARYCONCERT BAND37TH INTERNATIONALSAXOPHONE SYMPOSIUM*FRIDAY, JAN. 9, 8 P.M.John Handley High School Patsy Cline Theatre 425 Handley Blvd. Winchester, Va.*For free tickets visit usnavyband.ticketleap.com

CONCERT BANDFRIDAY, JAN. 16, 7 P.M.South County High School8501 Silverbrook RoadLorton, Va.

THURSDAY, JAN. 22, 7:30 P.M.North County High School Auditorium 10 East 1st Ave.Ferndale, Md.

SATURDAY, JAN. 24, 3 P.M.National Bandmasters Association SymposiumJohn Champe High School41535 Sacred Mountain St.Aldie, Va.

SATURDAY, JAN. 31, 7 P.M.Yorktown High School Auditorium5200 Yorktown Blvd.Arlington, Va.

COMMODORES37TH INTERNATIONALSAXOPHONE SYMPOSIUM*SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 8 P.M.John Handley High School Patsy Cline Theatre 425 Handley Blvd. Winchester, Va.*For free tickets visit usnavyband.ticketleap.com

BRASS QUARTETSUNDAY, JAN. 25, 3 P.M.Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church3401 Nebraska Ave. NWWashington, D.C.

FEBRUARYCONCERT BANDNATIONAL TOURThe Concert Band departs Feb. 16 for its 2015 national tour through Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

GLEN ALLEN, VA.Monday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m.Glen Allen High School Auditorium

BURLINGTON, N.C.Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m.Walter Williams High School Auditorium

CHARLOTTE, N.C.Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.Charlotte Catholic High School Gymnasium

ATHENS, GA.Thursday, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.The Classic Center Theatre

LEXINGTON, S.C.Friday, Feb. 20, 2 p.m.Lexington One Performing Arts Center

NEWNAN, GA.Saturday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts Performance Hall

OPELIKA, ALA.Sunday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m.Opelika Performing Arts Center

PENSACOLA, FLA.Monday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.Saenger Theatre

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.Florida State University

HOMESTEAD, FLA.Monday, March 2, 7 p.m.South Dade Senior High School

BRUNSWICK, GA.Sunday, March 8, 3 p.m.Jekyll Island Convention Center

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. Monday, March 9, 6:30 p.m.Rose Maree Meyers Theater for the Performing Arts

BOLIVIA, N.C. Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.Brunswick Community CollegeOdell Williamson Auditorium

CONCERT BAND ANDSEA CHANTERSNATIONAL TOURThe Concert Band and Sea Chanters will join forces in Florida during their national tour. The following are the combined dates:

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.Thursday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m.Peabody Auditorium

AVON PARK, FLA.Friday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m.South FL Community College

NAPLES, FLA.Saturday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m.Cambier Park Bandshell

COMMODORESGreat commodores concert tonight in Cape May, NJ. Thank you for the music and for your service! Jazz on!

-Sandra (Facebook)

HOLLYWOOD, FLA.Sunday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.Arts Park Amphitheater Band Shell

PUNTA GORDA, FLA.Tuesday, March 3, 7 p.m.Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center

LAKELAND, FLA.Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m.The Lakeland Center

BROOKSVILLE, FLA.Thursday, March. 5, 7:30 p.m.Hernando H.S. Gymnasium

ORLANDO, FLA.Saturday, March 7, 4 p.m.Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

COLUMBIA, S.C.Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m.The Ira & Nancy Koger Center for the Arts

SEA CHANTERNATIONAL TOURThe Sea Chanters depart Feb. 20 for their 2015 national tour through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

HENDERSON, N.C.Friday, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m.Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center

SUMTER, S.C.Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.Patriot Hall Performing Arts Center

MACON, GA. Sunday, Feb. 22, 3 p.m.Willingham Auditorium

SAVANNAH, GA. Monday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.Armstrong Atlantic State University

THOMASVILLE, GA. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

CORAL SPRINGS, FLA.Monday, March 2, 7:30 p.m.Coral Springs Center for the Arts

PALM COAST, FLA.Sunday, March 8, 3 p.m.Flagler Auditorium

GAINESVILLE, FLA. Monday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.University of Florida-Gainesville Phillips Center

OAK RIDGE, N.C.Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.Oak Ridge Military Academy Bonner Field House

GLEN ALLEN, VA.Thursday, March 12, 7 p.m.Deep Run High School

LOOKING AHEADTO MARCH

CONCERT BANDTHURSDAY, MARCH 26, 7 P.M.Wakefield High School1325 S. Dinwiddie St.Arlington, Va.

COMMODORESFRIDAY, MARCH 13, 6 P.M.Colonial Forge High School550 Courthouse RoadStafford, Va.

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Welcome aboard to...MU1 Brittany Foster, flutist

with the Concert/Ceremonial Band.

Fair winds and following seas to...

MUC Jamie Way, who retires after 18 years at the Navy Band as a Commodores trombonist.

COMMODORESGreat to see and hear the Commodores in New London, CT at the Coast Guard Academy! Impressive as always. Thank you!

-Elaine (Facebook)

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalMU1 Bryce Edwards

MU1 Jesse KingMU1 Adrienne MooreMU1 Andrew Skaggs

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

MUCS William GrayMUC Michael BelinkieMUC Melissa BishopMUC Emily Dickson

MUC Luis HernandezMUC Eric Lopez

MUC Andrew OppenheimMUC Adam Tyler

Friday, jan. 9 and Saturday, Jan. 10

at Shenandoah University and the Patsy Cline Theatre, both inWinchester, Virginia. for moreinformation. visit www.navyband.navy.mil/saxophone_symposium.shtml. For free tickets visitusnavyband.ticketleap.com

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Retired Master Chief Musician Ralph F. Gambone 1924-2014

COMMODORES@usnavyband Great concert in Greenvale, NY! Thank you! Another fan

@lwhinz48 (Twitter)

Sax Symposium continued...and with different setups, my eyes were opened to how versatile an instrument the saxophone is, and that there are many different ways to make the instrument sound beautiful.

“Attending the Saxophone Symposium was a major turning point in my career, and I know that others feel the same. I decided to come back as many times as I could to perform and listen to the wonderful artists that come every year.”

My first thought after reviewing my colleagues’ comments is, wow that’s great if you’re a saxophone player, but why would anyone else want to go? Well take it from an oboe player; you don’t want to miss this year’s symposium! Now let me tell you why!

Reason number one: the two marquee concerts. Friday night at 8 p.m. you get to hear world-class professional saxophonists Vincent David, James Houlik, Michael Ibrahim and the Navy Band Saxophone Quartet perform with the U.S. Navy Concert Band. Then the next day at 8 p.m. you get to hear U.S. Navy Band Commodores with

the Miami Saxophone Quartet. Reason number two: the college quartet series. Since

2003, the symposium has offered a national-level performance opportunity for college saxophonists. Continued on page 8

The entire Navy music program mourns the passing of retired Master Chief Musician Ralph F. Gambone, of Annapolis, Maryland. Gambone

was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and gradu-ated from Allentown High School in 1942. In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy, went to boot camp in Sampson, New York, and reported to the Naval School of Music in Washington. His first band assignment was at Navy Band Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and when the war ended, he reported to the AIRLANT Band (Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet Band in Norfolk, Virginia). In 1948, he successfully auditioned for the Naval Acad-emy Band in Annapolis and served there from 1948 to 1972 as a trumpet and clarinet instrumentalist, ar-ranger, conductor, operations chief and finally as the leading chief. In 1972 he joined the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, and served there as chief in charge of the Ceremonial Band until his retirement in 1975.

In the 1980s, his son, retired Capt. Ralph M. Gambone, rose through the officer ranks in the music program to become the leader of the Naval Academy Band and then the 11th leader and first commanding officer of the U.S. Navy Band. During this time,

Master Chief Gambone continued to be a great supporter of both bands, and attended many Naval Academy and Navy Band concerts. He videotaped several concerts by both bands, and spent many hours converting the tapes to DVDs, which he gave to band soloists and conductors.

Gambone is survived by his wife of 69 years, Isabel, a son and a daughter, as well as two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. ff

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Spotlight on...Chief Musician Dawn Henryby Chief Musician Cynthia Wolverton

As a result of the Navy’s realignment of the music program, the Naval Academy Band is in the process of downsizing. Several of these fine musicians have successfully auditioned for openings here at the Navy Band. One example is Chief Musician Dawn Henry, a clarinetist whose career has now included service in three premier military bands.

Tell us a little about your musical and military background.

I grew up in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, and started playing the clarinet at the age of 10. I attended the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music for my undergraduate studies and went on to Virginia Commonwealth University for my master’s degree. During my second year at VCU, I auditioned and was selected for the U.S. Air Force Band. After graduation, I left for boot camp in San Antonio. I spent four years in the Air Force Band before separating. I was out of the military for a year, and during that time I actually worked as a network administrator here at the Washington Navy Yard. I missed playing, so I began looking for openings in the D.C.-area bands. I auditioned for the Naval Academy Band in 2003 and started working there a few months later. I spent 11 years in Annapolis before coming to the Navy Band in July 2014.

Could you share a few musical highlights from your career so far?

This is a hard question! There have been a lot of highlights, and I have been able to perform in a variety of venues as a military musician that I never would have had the opportunity to do in the civilian world. One of the most meaningful highlights was a tour with the Air Force Band in October 2001. The attacks of Sept. 11 had occurred just a month prior to the tour and the response we received from audiences was truly remarkable. That may have been the first time I realized how important our job as military musicians is and the impact we can have on people. Other highlights would include the opportunity to perform as a soloist on several occasions, and

musically supporting military funerals at the Naval Academy and Arlington National Cemetery.

Besides playing, what extra duties have you held?

I have been involved in IT in some capacity throughout my entire career. At the Naval Academy Band, I served as IT assistant and later IT manager. I also worked in the operations and supply offices. Additionally, I served as leading petty officer of the Concert Band, and most recently chief in charge of public affairs for the band.

What was it like to transition from the Naval Academy Band to the Navy Band?

It was a pretty smooth transition for me. I think the transition is easier when it’s military to military as opposed to coming from the civilian world. Also, the Navy Band is similar in mission and scope to the Air Force Band where I started my military career. Everyone at the Navy Band has been very nice and helpful which has also contributed to an easy transition. If I have a question about something, I feel like I can ask anyone.

What are some of the differences you have noticed between the bands?The primary difference for me is the size of the groups. The Naval Academy Band was comprised of 66 enlisted musicians. The Navy Band is more than two and a half times that size. It’s an adjustment going from a workplace where I saw everyone on a fairly regular basis to an organization where due to the num-ber of ensembles and scheduling, I might not see some of my co-workers for weeks at a time.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?I enjoy running, reading, traveling, cooking and

MUC Dawn Henry

COMMODORESWe attended a concert of your Commodores Jazz Ensemble at the Lower Township Regional High School in Cape May County. We just would like you to know how much we enjoyed the presentation. It makes us so proud that we have these men in our midst and you send them on tour so everyone can appreciate their talent. We hope that you will allow them to return to Cape May as I know that everyone at the concert enjoyed it.

-Dolly (Cape May, New Jersey)

Continued on page 8

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gardening. I also love animals and try to find one week every year to travel to Utah where I volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Name three books you are reading or have recently finished.

I am currently reading “Whole” by T. Colin Campbell and Howard Jacobson. I recently read “Mindfulness in Plain English” by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana and “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. ff

This year we have 27 college quartets! Finally, reason number three: the saxophone

recitals, lectures and masterclasses. The symposium is offering 87 of these. Topics range from improvisation to using yoga to prevent injury, to masterclasses and recitals by our guest artists.

Now back to that question: why do you want to go to the U.S. Navy Band’s International Saxophone Symposium? Well, where else do you get all of this professional knowledge and amazing music performance for free? Yes, that’s right, 114 events in two days for free! The 37th International Saxophone Symposium will prove to be the best one yet, and we invite you to participate. After all, what good is great music without an audience?! Please go to our website to read artist biographies and to see detailed schedules of events: http://www.navyband.navy.

mil/Saxophone_Symposium.shtml. The symposium is free but tickets are required for the two evening concerts. To order your free tickets go to usnavyband.ticketleap.com. ff

Saxophone continued...

Spotlight continued...