Photo By Capt. Timothy Hernandez | Sgt. 1st Class Wendy Spohn and Spc. Megan Grieder, with the 1st Armored Division Band,...... read more read more
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LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Military bands have long been the good will ambassadors of the armed services to communities who have partnered with the military in achieving our national security interests. The 1st Armored Division Band carried on that tradition, May 7th, with a live performance at New Mexico State University’s Atkinson Recital Hall in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The goal of the event was to bring together students, local veterans and other community members in the area to honor the service of the local veterans and celebrate the support and patriotism that the NMSU community offers the armed services.
The live music event was a collaborative effort between the 1AD Band commander, Capt. Richard Winkels and the NMSU director of bands, Dr. Christopher Hughes. Winkels explained the unique relationship between NMSU and 1st Armored Division Artillery, also known as DIVARTY.
“I think it’s great… DIVARTY has a partners in education relationship with [NMSU], and since we fall under them we are helping to strengthen that relationship,” said Winkels.
By using the NMSU venue to reach audiences in El Paso’s sister city, Las Cruces, and inviting guest performers from the NMSU staff to participate in the live performance, Winkels looked to improve upon the relationship between NMSU, DIVARTY, 1st Armored Division and Team Bliss.
“It’s our way of helping to strengthen relationships - by inviting musicians to be a part of the band - in that way we are inviting Dr. Hughes to conduct John Philip Sousa’s ‘The Gallant Seventh,’” he added.
“Music has a wonderful power to unite people,” Dr. Hughes said. “It does that as well or better than anything else in life; and so to see the community come in, tapping their feet, enjoying and feeling the spirit of how great it is to be an American, how great it is to be alive and how great it is to appreciate such wonderful music from great musicians is just a fabulous experience.”
Dr. Hughes also commented on the unique opportunity collaboration with military bands offers his students, specifically those who are looking to continue their careers as professional musicians outside of the teaching profession. Military bands also provide his students a way to continue performing professionally for the community and the nation.
This unique venue also provided the 1AD Band an opportunity to hone their skills as professional musicians, other than the standard classical numbers performed at ceremonial functions.
Sgt. Amy Mahoney, a vocalist with the 1 AD Band, performed selections from “The Sound of Music,” recently performed by Lady Gaga at this year’s Oscar awards, and enjoyed the opportunity to reach younger audiences with a more current musical performance.
“It’s a dream of every musician, really, to make a living wage and do what you love. I just consider myself very fortunate that I am able to perform every day and make music every day with such a great group of Soldiers,” said Mahoney.
While Sgt. Mahoney’s performance was definitely a crowd pleaser, judging by the standing ovation she received, many of the attendees said their favorite performances of the night were the patriotic themed salutes and musical numbers.
“My favorite performance of the night was actually the armed forces salute; I really liked to see the people stand up,” said Kyler Burd, an NMSU student. “It really highlights the people who have served our country and that’s so important.”
With a variety of musical numbers including western music, big brass band performances and crooning rat pack classics like Sinatra in Love, the audience was treated to a full spectrum of musical entertainment with a southwest theme.
Burd said he was surprised by the variety and noted it was nice the military band was not strictly a marching band and had the freedom to produce and perform quality music from all kinds of genres.
Dr. Linda Matthews McCoy, a Vietnam war veteran and veteran of the 1st Armored Division, is no stranger to military band performances and considered the night’s performance to be among the best she had ever seen.
“I think they are an excellent band,” she said. “I have listened to a lot of bands and I think this is probably one of the best.”
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.11.2015 16:35 |
| Story ID: | 162936 |
| Location: | LAS CRUCES, NM, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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