Photo By Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | Chief Warrant Officer 3 Benjamin Bartholomew, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - The holiday season is a busy time for Marines with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. This season, the band performed at no fewer than 39 Marine Corps birthday ball ceremonies in addition to preparing for one of its biggest concerts of the year.
2nd MAW Band members have spent every spare moment the last couple of months preparing for the annual 2nd MAW Christmas Concert, which will be performed at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point theater Dec. 7. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Staff Sgt. Terri Kopetzki, the assistant enlisted conductor and a clarinetist with the 2nd MAW Band, said as performers and Marines, it is their job to manage the “organized chaos” to put on the best show they can.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Benjamin Bartholomew, the 2nd MAW band officer, said being busy is not something unique to the band, and they are definitely capable of meeting their mission through this busy time.
“This year we covered 39 birthday ball ceremonies in a one-month period,” he said. “But we kept a decent schedule, and now that the birthday balls are pretty much over with, we’ll have a solid two weeks to prepare for the Christmas concert.”
The musicians have mostly practiced in small groups – a method of fine-tuning their concert selects.
“I have a great staff here, the gunnery sergeants do a great job of preparing all of the smaller ensembles that are in the band, so once the individual pieces are in place, it’s just a matter of getting it to roll together for the performance.” said Bartholomew. “A few days before the concert is when we actually start running through, so we’re working out the logistics, and it’s a changing stage.”
Kopetzki said the Marines are all in the holiday spirit and looking forward to the performance.
“I have been very impressed with all the Marines attitudes and the hard work they have put in,” said Kopetzki. “I don’t personally get sick of Christmas music, but I’m sure there are some who do. Christmas to me is one of those times where if you’re not happy to play Christmas music, what’s the point? Everyone should have high emotions for this time of year because there’s so much excitement going on.”
Cpl. Osman Chaudhry, a percussionist, said throughout the practices, military training and other commitments, the overall mood of the band has been jolly.
“I personally love this job,” said Chaudhry. “I have all the benefits of being a working musician and full-time Marine. From ammo can lifts to tuning a bass, it’s one of the best jobs in the Marine Corps.”
In a teaser to the concert, Kopetzki shared that due to the date, a piece was chosen to honor the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
In last year’s concert, roughly 2,000 attendants packed the air station theater to watch the band’s performance. The band expects another packed house this year.
“The only way to describe (playing in front of so many people) is that when all the work you’ve put into a concert is coming together and you’re performing everything you’ve worked hard on, the sounds of the band are just settling,” said Kopetzki. “It’s a relief you finally get to share it,”
Those unable to attend the concert in person can see it streamed live via Google+ at http://bitly/cherrypointplus or YouTube at http://bit.ly/cherrypointchannel.
| Date Taken: | 11.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.28.2012 14:32 |
| Story ID: | 98437 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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