Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Molly Burgess | Mike Gooding, WVEC-TV, military reporter, the guest speaker for the even, delivers...... read more read more
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NORFOLK, Va. - The Virginia International Tattoo, the largest military musical display in the U.S., announced this year’s theme, “A Tribute to Military Families,” during its annual press conference at the Robin Hixon Theater in Norfolk, Virginia, Jan. 30.
The 2015 event, held April 23-26 at the Norfolk Scope Arena, is a multi-national event that showcases talent and tradition through military performances. With more than 900 performers from around the world in a display of military bands, massed pipes and drums, drill teams, Celtic dancers, cultural performers, choirs and more, the show is tailored to the whole family.
During the conference, some of the show’s events were highlighted, to include the international aspect of the event of the many participating nations, as well as some of the local bands that will participate in this year’s Tattoo.
“Some of the things you’ll see this year are the Norfolk public schools All-City High School Chorus, Virginia Children’s Chorus, an amazing obstacle race where the United States Marines will participate against the United States Coast Guard,” said J. Scott Jackson, Virginia International Tattoo producer/director. “And a special treat this year for the first time ever, from Virginia Tech, the Highty-Tighties Regimental Band.”
Returning to the Tattoo is the full scale student matinee performances that will each accommodate more than 600 students, totaling more than 18,000 students who will get to visit the Tattoo.
“One of the things I am especially proud of is working so closely with the school districts in the area to make sure there is broad participation,” said Jackson. “For example, in Norfolk, every single sixth-grader in a public school in Norfolk, attends the Tattoo every year. That means every child in Norfolk public schools will see the Tattoo at least once in their school career.”
The student matinee performances are open only to students during school hours and similar matinee arrangements extend out to Virginia Beach, Portsmouth and Williamsburg James City, according to Jackson.
Other highlighted events will be the special audience night that will be open to special needs patrons to attend the Tattoo dress rehearsal; and the education outreach events in which performers go into area schools to provide a more intimate experience for students.
Also returning to the Tattoo this year is Hullabaloo, an Edinburgh Festival inspired event, a free festive celebration on Scope Plaza three hours prior to each performance.
“I always think it’s nice when someone’s had a great time at the hullabaloo,” said Jackson. “They sit in their seat for the Tattoo, and they’ve already had a good time and it makes our job a lot easier.”
In keeping with this year’s theme “A Tribute to Military Families,” the guest speaker for the event was Mike Gooding, an award winning military reporter for WVEC-TV since 1985, who has traveled the world reporting on military affairs, has visited 19 countries and has reported from war zones.
“This is going to be the 19th Tattoo, and I’m pretty sure I have attended about 15 of them, and multiple times during those 15, as an emcee, as a television news photographer and as a spectator sitting in the audience with my children from the time they were younger,” said Gooding, “and while working for channel 13 covering the military has been my pleasure – my honor, for many years, I’m here to talk about the other side as a former Navy brat.”
Gooding went on to speak about his childhood experiences and growing up with his late father, who he spoke in detail on his service during two tours in Vietnam as a Navy pilot and earning a Silver Star medal for actions during war.
At the conclusion of the event, six-time world champion bagpiper and Tattoo Pipe Major Andrew Carlisle, played a solo as photos of military families scrolled through an overhead screen.
“Many of the people here today were generous enough to provide us with photos of their military family, to remind us just how personal it is for us to be here,” Jackson said. “During the Tattoo this year, we will be inviting all of our audience to participate in the same way and we look forward to celebrating our military families together.”
| Date Taken: | 01.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2015 16:32 |
| Story ID: | 153428 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 131 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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