Elon University hosted the United States Navy Concert Band on March 12 in Alumni Gym. This is the second show in the band's southeastern tour to celebrate the 250 year anniversary of the Navy and the 100 year anniversary of the Navy Band. The band will travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina next in its 23 day tour and finish in Washington, D.C. The concerts are free to all attendees.
Performers include the concert band, Sea Chanters chorus and Cruisers. The band takes the audience on a journey through the Navy’s history using narrators, music, pictures and videos.
A Miami Sound Machine medley composed of “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Get on Your Feet,” and ‟Conga” all by Gloria Estefan started the show.
Throughout the concert, narrators introduced a new era within the Navy by describing advancements in technology, traditions and the Navy’s presence on the world stage. Much of the music played had symbolic connections to the era being commemorated.
After the narrators detailed the evolution of strategy and development within the Navy following World War II, the concert band played the “Midway March” by John Williams. The band also included songs such as “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” by Bing Crosby and the Andrews sisters to recognize the greatest generation and “Defying Gravity” from Wicked to celebrate the Navy’s involvement in astronaut training and development.
While each song played, the video boards in Alumni Gym played videos and picture slideshows of World War II era sailors, present day sailors and modern cruisers and destroyers.
The medium-sized crowd in Alumni Gym was composed of locals to Elon and from the greater North Carolina area. While there were some students, the audience was primarily filled with older members of the community. The crowd became lively during the disco fever megamix performed during the latter half of the concert. Songs included ‟Got To Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn and ‟We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. Members of the audience clapped and sang along as chorus members engaged with the crowd.
Sea Chanter performs Defying Gravity to commemorate the Navy’s successes in astronaut development during the Navy Concert Band's southeastern tour on March 12 in Alumni Gym.
The concert band played the Navy hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” by William Whiting and John Bacchus Dykes and “This Is My Country” by Don Raye and Al Jacobs. The Navy Band closed with “Armed Forces on Parade” as a tribute to members of the armed forces in the audience.
Neil Carlson served for 20 years in the Navy but never had the opportunity to see the band during his deployment. He attended the concert with his wife, Ruth, and praised the performances of the singers and the song selections.
“When they played the Navy Hymn at the end, I had 20 years of memories just fast forward right past me and it got me so choked up,” Carlson said.
Another attendee Pam Witzel said she was surprised by the modern song choices in the set list. She also highlighted the importance of supporting the Navy band during its tour and how that support can bridge divides within the country.
Ensign Kyle Beltram is an associate conductor of the Navy band who has been serving in the Navy for 10 years and been with the band for a year and half. Beltram emphasized how the tour helps the Navy connect with citizens across the country and bring people together.
“Telling the Navy’s story is a vital part of our outreach mission and we want to keep the American public connected to our Navy and our services,” Beltram said. “In sharing our love of service and support of our country, we can bring folks together in common bond and common unity through music.”
The Carlsons both agreed the tour may help to bring some unity within the country but conceded the country has changed greatly in the past few years.
“There’s an old saying in leadership in the Navy, ‘You praise in public and reprimand in private,’” Neil said. “Now it seems to be just the opposite. You don’t hear any praise and all you see is reprimanding in public. I hate to see that.”
Ruth followed her husband’s remarks with praise for the country.
“We’ve seen the problems in America now, but America is still the greatest country in the world,” Ruth said.