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Life in the West Point Band

~ A chronicle of daily life in the Army's oldest band

Life in the West Point Band

Tag Archives: West Point Holiday

Boston Pops Holiday with guests from the West Point Band

07 Saturday Dec 2013

Posted by rjny in Concert Band, Hellcats, Jazz Knights, Uncategorized, West Point Holiday

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100.7 WHUD, america, Army, army band, band, big band, Boston Pops, Chanukah, Christmas, Classical Music, concert band, Eisenhower Hall, Eisenhower Hall Theatre, Esplanade Orchestra, free performance, Hellcats, holiday, holiday music, Jazz, Jazz knights, Jeremy Gaynor, Keith Lockhart, Mike & Kacey, military band, military music, Music, santa, service, trombone, United States Military Academy, West Point, West Point Band, West Point Holiday, wind ensemble

Thanks to everyone that made “West Point Holiday” so much fun!

Screen Shot 2013-12-07 at 5.21.47 PMIf you’re looking for more music this weekend come back to Eisenhower Hall Sunday at 1:30, when members of the West Point Band will join the BOSTON POPS Esplanade Orchestra with Conductor Keith Lockhart for their sparkling and beloved Holiday Pops concert.

Tickets are available HERE.

Conductor Keith Lockhart visited Mike & Kacey on 100.7 WHUD this week. To listen to the interview, click HERE for the link or listen to it from right here on our blog.
http://www.igniteanoise.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Keith-Lockhart-12-2-13.mp3

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The Week of the West Point Holiday

06 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by NY Musician in Concert Band, Hellcats, Jazz Knights, West Point Holiday

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america, Army, army band, band, big band, Chanukah, Christmas, Classical Music, concert band, Eisenhower Hall, Eisenhower Hall Theatre, free performance, Hellcats, holiday, holiday music, Jazz, Jazz knights, Jeremy Gaynor, military band, military music, Music, santa, service, trombone, United States Military Academy, West Point, West Point Band, West Point Holiday, wind ensemble

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For most people, Christmas means food, presents, family, maybe some time off of work or school . . . For me, it means those things, but it also means our annual West Point Holiday Show is upon us. So now you know that we put on a holiday show, but what does this really mean for the West Point Band? I’m glad you asked. It means a week filled with many West Point Band members wearing a great deal of different hats. This week, a typical band member is a musician; a stage hand for set-up or tear down; a member of the light crew or decorating team; an usher; publicity booth attendant; producer; et al . . . It means a week of intense music rehearsals, tech rehearsals, set-ups, tear-downs, run-throughs, talk-throughs–It’s a lot.

Why do we do so much? To bring you the best Holiday show on the East Coast, of course! If you’ve never seen it, you definitely owe it to yourself to come. It’s not just a concert of holiday music. It’s much, much more than that. It’s a series of musical selections that tell a story, interspersed with clever narration. Most of our arrangements are original and unique and are guaranteed to appeal to the whole family. And for all you parents out there, there may even be an appearance from Santa Claus, and your kids will have the chance to sit on his lap after the concert (if he shows, wink wink).

So amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, do yourself and your family a favor by taking a little time and joining us in Eisenhower Hall on this coming Friday evening (7:30 p.m.) or Saturday afternoon (2:00 p.m.). I can almost guarantee that it will become a part of your holiday tradition for years to come and we will do our darndest to keep you entertained for those years to come!

Words by Staff Sgt. Dave Loy Song

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My Perspective of the West Point Holiday

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by NY Musician in Uncategorized

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america, Army, army band, band, big band, Chanukah, Christmas, Classical Music, concert band, Eisenhower Hall, Eisenhower Hall Theatre, free performance, Hellcats, holiday, holiday music, Jazz, Jazz knights, Jeremy Gaynor, military band, military music, Music, santa, service, trombone, United States Military Academy, West Point, West Point Band, West Point Holiday, wind ensemble

1002002_10151727179771825_1647130674_nSpeaking as someone who’s been in the band for nine years, I can honestly say that the holiday show is one of my favorite performances we do. I’ve only not been involved in two of them, and I was bummed out each time to not play, and still attended the performance anyway. This isn’t because I am a holiday fanatic, up on my roof stapling Christmas lights after Halloween and decorating my car like a reindeer (although I do admit to being excited each year when the stations start playing holiday songs)— but it’s because I really feel our holiday shows are just that good.

Every year we do something a little bit different; when I first got in the band, we would incorporate local children’s choirs and dance troupes. In the first show I ever played, I specifically remember the Fairfield County Children’s Choir singing the South African hymn “Siyahamba” with percussion accompaniment. It was something so different than I was used to hearing on traditional “holiday” programs! I feel that the way we program a diverse array of songs— as well as using arrangements in a wide variety of musical styles (classical, jazz, funk, pop, country, etc.)— is part of what makes our holiday shows so entertaining. For instance, we have done “O Holy Night” as a soul-bluesy trumpet feature, “No Place Like Home for the Holidays” as a country tune, “What Child is This” as a jazz saxophone duet feature, and “Carol of the Bells” as a fantasy with a slow and steady minimalistic buildup into a rock section with electric guitar solo (the last three of these which will be performed this week!).

8289013117_598f6534d7_zFor this year’s show I also had the opportunity to help write the script, which gave me an insight into just how involved the show is even beyond the music. Having only ever just played my clarinet part, I didn’t fully understand just how much goes into a production like this. There are all of the vocalist and instrumentalist cues, lighting, sound, props, stage setups, etc— all of which have to work together. Before the band even rehearses a single note, hours upon hours have been spent conceiving, planning, and organizing. To give you an idea, going into the first rehearsal ever for this year’s show, we were already up to draft number seven of the script! And even though the group of musicians on stage for the performance is only a part of the whole band (a hybrid jazz-concert band), this concert is quite literally “all hands on deck,” with all band members either on stage, back stage, ushering, directing cars in the parking lot, playing pre-music— or any combination of the above— not to mention all the work that goes into publicizing the event beforehand. In the end, though, it’s always a great payoff to get to bring in the season with so many people and their families who show up each year for the West Point Holiday!

Words by Staff Sgt. Erin Beaver

Download free tickets HERE
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‘Twas the West Point Holiday

30 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by NY Musician in Concert Band, Hellcats, Jazz Knights, Uncategorized, West Point Holiday

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america, Army, army band, band, big band, Chanukah, Christmas, Classical Music, concert band, Eisenhower Hall, Eisenhower Hall Theatre, free performance, Hellcats, holiday, Jazz, Jazz knights, Jeremy Gaynor, military band, military music, Music, service, trombone, United States Military Academy, West Point, West Point Band, West Point Holiday, wind ensemble

1002002_10151727179771825_1647130674_n

It’s December in the Hudson Valley and that means one thing: it’s time for the West Point Holiday at Eisenhower Hall. As usual, there will be world-class music and an entertaining story. This year’s show is based on the beloved poem, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” only with a witty West Point twist. There will be laughs, there will be twists, and there might even be an appearance from Santa Claus! How do I know so much about the script? I co-wrote it, along with my colleague, Staff Sgt. Erin Beaver. (The hilarious and clever rhymes—and there are many—were mostly her doing. She’s hilarious.) We did such a fine job writing it, I was asked to narrate the show, too.  I agreed. Normally I’m playing trombone for this production. This year, I’m the M.C.

8290076016_b5342d2048I’m not going to lie, I’m excited, but I’m also a little nervous. It’s almost like I’m watching my Kansas City Chiefs play. But a few butterflies never hurt anyone. I am truly looking forward to the opportunity.

One advantage I’ll have as the narrator is having an 18-month-old daughter who loves hearing her daddy read to her. Whether it’s a story about different colors, farm animals, or the alphabet, I strive for the dramatic and to entertain—I want my daughter to enjoy her books, after all! Only now I’m reading a holiday poem synced with music. And instead of reading to my toddler, I’m reading to several thousand people. No big deal!

This show is always spectacular and I’m confident this year’s will be no different. Come ring in the holiday cheer with the West Point Band!

Tickets are required for this free show. They can be downloaded at www.westpointband.com.

Words by Staff Sgt. Phil Stehly

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