Friendship concert brings different cultures together

Photo By Sgt. Michael Iams | Staff Sgt. James Dempsey, a saxophone player with the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, leads the saxophone section as they march and perform during the Friendship Summer Concert held at the Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan City May 14.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

05.20.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Michael Iams 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

The lights grew dim as curtains opened to the sound of music echoing throughout the auditorium.

As the music played, the stage background illumination changed, expressing the feeling of each song.

This was the scene at the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band’s Friendship Summer Concert held at the Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan City May 14.

“This concert is a way for us to be good ambassadors to Okinawa and give back to the Okinawans,” said Sgt. Michael Perkins, a guitar player with the band.

The concert featured performances by the full band, soloists and small ensembles.

“We have been working and trying new things that have never been done by this band before,” said Cpl. Chris Hanson, a trumpet player. “We created a barbershop choir and debuted singing while performing.”

The concert also showcased a special duet performance from Sgt. Joshua Crissey, a euphonium player with the III MEF Band, and Sgt. Naoto Isa, a euphonium player with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, First Combined Brigade Band.

“It was a great experience to be able to perform with Sgt. Isa,” said Crissey. “He is a talented euphonium player, and I learned a lot of techniques from him.”

The band put a new spin on the music, delighting the audience with a performance while marching.

“The band did an amazing job with this performance and put their hearts into it,” said Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., III MEF commanding general and Marine Corps Bases Japan commander.

After the concert, the band marched out to the front of the convention center to shake hands and thank the audience for coming out.

“The band put on an amazing performance, as you can tell from the audience interaction and the standing ovation,” said Glueck.

“I am really proud about how well this concert went,” said Hanson. “The reaction of the audience and the standing ovation we received at the end made me feel like we made a difference here today.”

• Date Taken: 05.20.2011
• Date Posted: 05.19.2011 21:46
• Story ID: 70721
• Location: OKINAWA, JP