The Concert
THE PERFORMERS
A Capitol Fourth features performances from some of the country's best known and award-winning musical artists:
- The National Symphony Orchestra
- Jack Everly
- United States Army Presidential Salute Battery
- Choral Arts Society of Washington
- U.S. Army Herald Trumpets
- U.S. Army Ceremonial Band
- The United States Air Force Band, Ceremonial Brass
- Military District of Washington
Maestro Jack Everly
Jack Everly is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Baltimore and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and National Arts Center Orchestra (Ottawa). This season he makes his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut at the Hollywood Bowl, returns to The Cleveland Orchestra and appears as guest conductor in Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Ft. Worth and Phoenix. Originally appointed by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Everly was conductor of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) for 14 years, where he served as music director. In addition to his ABT tenure, he has teamed with Marvin Hamlisch in Broadway shows that Hamlisch scored, including The Goodbye Girl, They’re Playing Our Song and A Chorus Line. He conducted Carol Channing in two separate Broadway productions of Hello, Dolly! In television and film, Everly has appeared on In Performance at the White House and conducted the songs for Disney’s animated classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He has been music director on numerous Broadway cast recordings and conducted the critically praised Everything’s Coming Up Roses: The Overtures of Jule Styne. Daniel Rodriguez’s In the Presence,with the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra of Prague and conducted by Everly, was released in 2005. In 1998, Everly created the Symphonic Pops Consortium (SPC) and serves as music director. The Consortium, based in Indianapolis, produces a new theatrical pops program each season. In the past ten years, more than 225 performances of SPC programs have taken place across the U.S. and Canada, including this season’s Mysterioso: Music, Magic & Mayhem. Maestro Everly holds an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Franklin College in his home state of Indiana.
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The National Symphony Orchestra
The National Symphony Orchestra of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, led by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach, is recognized not only nationally but also internationally, and is considered one of the world's finest ensembles. The Orchestra, in its 80th season (2010-11), maintains a busy concert schedule in this country and abroad, performing approximately 175 concerts each season, including a classical subscription series, pops concerts, a summer series at Wolf Trap, and one of the nation’s most varied and extensive educational programs. The National Symphony is particularly distinguished for its commitment to the music and musicians of this country. This is exemplified through several innovative projects, among them the American Residency program, which has so far taken the National Symphony to 21 states performing concerts and providing educational services, with all proceeds benefiting artistic organizations in the local states. Through the John and June Hechinger Commissioning Fund, the Orchestra has commissioned more than 60 works by American composers. Two have earned Pulitzer Prizes, and the series also includes cycles of fanfares and encores, which, taken as a whole, are representative of the diverse influences in American composition today. The Orchestra provides free public concerts on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, as well as at other venues around the Washington, D.C. area. For more information on the National Symphony’s programs, please visit http://www.nationalsymphony.org.
United States Army Presidential Salute Battery
The 3rd U.S. Infantry Salute Guns Platoon is responsible for rendering honors to visiting foreign dignitaries and heads of state at the White House, the Pentagon and elsewhere in the Washington D.C., area. The platoon also fires the final salutes during many funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. The guns platoon is the only unit of its kind in the Army, and its busy schedule includes more than 300 ceremonies each year.
For more information, please visit: http://www.army.mil/.
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Choral Arts Society of Washington
Now entering its 47th season, The Choral Arts Society of Washington, under the leadership of its founder and artistic director Norman Scribner, is one of the major symphonic choruses in the United States. Consisting of more than 180 professional-caliber volunteer singers, The Choral Arts Society of Washington has performed under the world’s leading conductors and symphony orchestras, recorded a number of acclaimed CDs and toured nationally and internationally. The chorus is regularly called upon to help inaugurate presidents, honor world leaders, celebrate national holidays and participate in televised performances. For more information, visit: http://www.choralarts.org
U.S. Army Herald Trumpets
The United States Army Herald Trumpets is the official fanfare ensemble for the President of the United States. Founded in 1959 and patterned after traditional British “fanfare” trumpet ensembles, The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets was formed to add splendor to official military ceremonies. A performing element of The United States U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C., the ensemble has performed for countless events of national and international significance. These include twelve presidential inaugurals, the “G8” Economic Summits in 1984, 1990 and 2004, the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations and, most recently, the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI at the White House in April 2008. In addition to its official duties, The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets has performed in the opening ceremonies for the 1980 and 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the 1984 Summer Olympic Games and the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. The ensemble has also performed at such nationally and internationally televised events as Super Bowl XXXIX, The Kennedy Center Honors and the relighting of the Statue of Liberty. The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets has been featured with orchestras from around the world, including the National Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops and the Cincinnati Pops. For more information, visit www.usarmyband.com/herald_trumpets/
U.S. Army Ceremonial Band
The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” has been the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army since 1922. Army Chief of Staff General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing founded the band, emulating European military bands he had heard during the First World War. “Pershing’s Own” continues to play an important role in events of national and international significance, and leads every inaugural parade, a tradition begun in 1925 with the inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge. Since its original organization, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band has grown to meet a wide range of commitments. While the Ceremonial Band’s primary mission is to support over 2,000 military funerals each year in Arlington National Cemetery, the band performs other missions of national and international importance. These missions include wreath-laying ceremonies by heads of state and other foreign dignitaries at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, monthly retirement parades, special reviews, and arrival and departure honors for foreign dignitaries at the White House and Pentagon. Recent major events include 2005 Presidential Inaugural festivities, the State Funerals of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, and ceremonies honoring Her Majesty The Queen of England Elizabeth II during her visit to the United States in May 2007. The 70 musicians of The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band come from some of the most prestigious music conservatories and universities in the country. Beyond their ceremonial roles, members of The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band routinely display their versatility and superb musicianship while performing with other elements of The U.S. Army Band, in chamber group performances, on recital programs, and as soloists for summer concerts. Commitments performed by The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band are an integral and indispensable part of the overall mission of “Pershing’s Own” and are some the most visible missions performed by The United States Army Band. For more information, visit http://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial_band/the_us_army_ceremonial_band.html.
The United States Air Force Band, Ceremonial Brass
Brass music has played an important role in public gatherings and ceremonies for hundreds of years. Military leaders have always been keenly aware of the strength and carrying power of brass and percussion instruments. They have often chosen them to perform signals, alarms, and other outdoor ceremonial and concert music. Today, amidst the great monuments that celebrate our nation's history, The United States Air Force Ceremonial Brass continues this ancient tradition by providing the finest musical support for state arrivals at the White House and arrivals at Andrews Air Force Base, full honor arrivals for foreign dignitaries at the Pentagon, retirements, changes of command, awards ceremonies, patriotic programs and funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to its ceremonial duties, the Ceremonial Brass performs in concert several times each year. Because of the variety of its commitments, the ensemble's repertoire ranges from traditional music to original commissioned works. The origins of the Ceremonial Brass trace back to 1964, when The United States Air Force Headquarters Command Band was incorporated into The United States Air Force Band as a separate ceremonial unit. Since its creation, it has evolved into the Ceremonial Brass, consisting of world-class brass players, percussionists and drum major. The group is responsible for more than 1,000 missions annually. Most recently, the Ceremonial Brass has represented the United States Air Force at the 50th anniversary of V.E. Day celebration in Moscow, as well as in military tattoo ceremonies in The Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. The Ceremonial Brass has made numerous appearances on radio and national television. For more information, visit http://www.usafband.af.mil/ensembles/BandEnsembleBio.asp?EnsembleID=59.
Military District of Washington
The Military District of Washington works with Capital Concerts in coordinating the Department of Defense participation of the Premier Service Bands and Service Honor Guards.