By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maria I. Alvarez
Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
NEW YORK - Musician 3rd Class Cristiana Villalva, a San Diego native and a 2014 graduate of Park University, serves as a vocalist at Navy Band Northeast.
Villalva is the lead singer of the Navy Band Northeast Rock Band “Rhode Island Sound,” and has served in the U.S. Navy for 1 year. She is also a member of the Pops Ensemble and the Ceremonial Ensemble divisions of Navy Band Northeast based out of Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island.
“This will be my first Fleet Week New York, so I’m extremely honored and excited to help the public celebrate their Navy through music,” said Villalva. “I’ll be singing my heart out in Time Square with the Navy Band Northeast’s Rock Band, ‘Rhode Island Sound.’”
Rhode Island Sound will perform in Time Square and Eisenhower Park. The Pops Ensemble will perform in Central Park and the Ceremonial Ensemble will perform in Central Park and Liberty State Park as part of 2017 Fleet Week New York (FWNY).
“There is nowhere in America that has such a diverse population as New York City,” said Lt. Gregory Fritz, Navy Band Northeast director. “Fleet Week New York serves as an opportunity for Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen to engage with the citizens of New York and let them know what we do on a daily basis. These interactions put a face to the Navy and make it tangible, that these people are the ones out there preserving our freedom and interests around the world.”
Villalva’s parents, Lisa and Anthony Bayungan, reside in San Diego. Her father served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years.
FWNY, now in its 29th year, is the city’s time-honored celebration of the sea services. It is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services. The weeklong celebration has been held nearly every year since 1984.
For up-to-date information on all FWNY events, visit the official FWNY website at www.fleetweeknewyork.com, “Like” FleetWeekNewYork on Facebook, or “Follow” @FleetWeekNYC on Twitter. FWNY photos can be viewed on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/fwnypao and Instagram at www.instagram.com/fleetweeknyc. Join the conversation on Social media by using #FleetWeekNYC.