The current political climate in the United States means that the military is at the forefront of our national psyche. “Support our Troops” bumper stickers proliferate, reports from congressional budget meetings on military spending spout from our radios, and pictures from Iraq and Afghanistan appear regularly on Internet news sites, television, and daily newspapers across the nation.
Despite all this attention, few are aware that the U.S. military is also the nation’s largest employer of professional musicians. Many of these musicians are graduates of Juilliard, the New England Conservatory, and other highly respected conservatories and universities.
Master Sgt. William Gabbard of the U.S. Army Field Band Soldiers’ Chorus often marvels at this.
“[So many people] believe that we go out and find active-duty soldiers in the field who just happen to have music degrees from Eastman or Indiana!” he says.
Master Sgt. Ryan Dolan of the U.S. Air Force’s Singing Sergeants agrees.
“Most people don’t realize we are a professional musical organization. Many people think we are Air Force members who happen to be able to carry a tune. [They don’t realize] the Singing Sergeants hire most of our members from the civilian professional music community, or from other professional military bands.”
“The most common misconception I encounter in recruiting is the fear that we will be shipped off to war,” adds Chief Musician Keith Hinton of the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters. “However, our main mission is as presidential support here in Washington. We do several performances for the president each year.”
Sgt. Maj. Michael Dudley of the U.S. Army Chorale agrees.
“There’s a vast amount of ceremonial work during wartime that involves not only instrumentalists, but also vocalists. This can be your duty, because someone has to take care of the ceremonial side of what the military is responsible for.”
Each of the five branches that make up the U.S. military—the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy—has at least one ensemble for which they hire professional singers. Classical Singerannounces opportunities all of these ensembles offer as they become available. (The Coast Guard and Marines are not discussed more fully here—each employs only one vocalist as a member of its instrumental ensembles.)
The various ensembles have several advantages in common. Each provides a steady income. Depending on the branch, salaries often start at about $40,000. Each offers full military benefits, which include medical and dental coverage and educational benefits, such as the GI Bill and assistance in student loan repayment.
Each requires members to complete basic training, typically lasting six to eight weeks to physically and mentally train recruits for life in the military. Recruits must be between 18 and 34, and able to meet military height and weight standards.
Each requires a high level of musicianship and versatility. These bands expect solid technique, ability to perform in several musical genres, and strong stage presence.
Each has a similar rehearsal schedule. Each group rehearses for two or three hours a day as an ensemble, allowing time for smaller ensemble work, soloist rehearsal time, and “collateral duty”—time spent doing tasks and administrative duties for the good of the whole.
Each provides a permanent duty position. Once you are stationed at a particular base, you stay there for your entire career.
“It’s just a tremendous opportunity,” says Dudley. “You can buy a home. You can put down roots. You can raise a family. And still serve your country at the same time… It just can’t be beat.”
The Air Force
The Singing Sergeants is the official, professional chorus of the U.S. Air Force Band. It is one of eight performance ensembles in the Air Force Band, which also includes a jazz combo, a rock ensemble, a concert band, ceremonial brass, and a string orchestra, among others.
One of the benefits of being involved in an organization with so many facets is the range of opportunity available, says Dolan.
“In the Singing Sergeants, in addition to the great choral music we sing, there are frequent opportunities to be a featured soloist with the concert band or any of our other ensembles.”
Chief Master Sgt. David Nokes, director of Public Affairs, adds, “It was one of our own, Tech Sgt. Bradley Bennett, who had the honor of singing the national anthem at the [recent presidential] inauguration!”
Dolan continues, “We specialize in, or have an emphasis on, patriotic and American choral music, but we do everything from pop, rock ‘n roll, Broadway, to opera. We also have an active chamber music series … The Singing Sergeants are often called upon to perform in the homes of our senior military leaders when they host international dignitaries who are on official visits to our nation. Because the entire chorus is unable to fit into such intimate settings, we put together small ensembles to fulfill these requirements. This is another opportunity to be creative in choosing our repertoire. And as our duty schedule permits, we are also able to take part in the rich and vibrant arts scene in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.
“Because we endeavor to hire only the best and brightest musicians, it has always been a challenge to find qualified candidates. There are times when we hold several auditions for a position before we are able to offer someone a job,” Dolan continues. “Additionally, the enlistment standards for the United States Air Force are very high. These two things combined make for a very rigorous process.
“One should note that we do pre-screen people prior to their audition to let them know if they are eligible to enlist. That way people won’t waste time auditioning for us only to find out that they can’t enter the Air Force in the first place. Although we do have high standards, prospective applicants shouldn’t be discouraged from auditioning for us … There are members who made it into the group after their second or third audition.”
The minimum enlistment requirement in the Air Force is four years.
Master Sgt. Dolan of the Singing Sergeants will be at this year’s Classical Singer Convention AudComps. Make sure to find him and introduce yourself!
The Army
The United States Army is the oldest and largest branch of the U.S. military. Consequently, the Army has the largest number of performing positions available. The Army currently has 34 active duty bands around the world, says Master Sgt. Gabbard of the U.S. Army Field Band Soldiers’ Chorus—not to mention 52 National Guard bands and 19 Reserve bands. The varied performing responsibilities of each band mean there are opportunities for vocalists in nearly every one. However, he says, full-time positions are limited largely to the Army’s three largest and most distinct bands: The U.S. Army Band, the U.S. Army Field Band, and the U.S. Military Academy Band, with the bulk of positions within the first two.
The U.S. Army Band includes two full-time choruses. One of them, the Army Chorus, is a ceremonial, all-male chorus whose primary responsibility is to sing for the president, dignitaries (in their own languages), military and civilian VIP audiences, and for state affairs in the Capitol.
“We rarely have openings,” says Sgt. Maj. David Helveston. “People love the job so much, they stay in. We just filled a baritone position in April and we received tons of packets for auditions. We always get several from the other military choruses, because we don’t travel and are more family friendly.”
The second choral ensemble of the U.S. Army Band is the Army Chorale, a smaller, mixed chorus that performs as a “show choir,” incorporating choreography and movement into their numbers. The chorale often performs in smaller, more intimate settings, such as after-dinner concerts, in addition to holding regular concerts and recitals through the year.
“We do everything from grand opera to the Grand Ol’ Opry,” says Sgt. Maj. Dudley. “It’s been the case that we go from that beautiful soprano-mezzo duet in Lakmé to a Charlie Daniels tune. We cover a very broad spectrum of music.”
The U.S. Army Field Band Soldiers’ Chorus is another mixed chorus, and the only chorus whose primary mission is not ceremonial. The Soldiers’ Chorus performs specifically for the American people. The group travels about 100 days each year, covering the lower 48 states every two-and-a-half years and performing 150-175 concerts a year.
The Army requires a minimum enlistment of three years.
The Navy
The U.S. Navy offers two career paths for musicians. A singer may sign on with the Sea Chanters, the official professional chorus of the Navy, or as a vocalist/entertainer in one of the fleet bands—though usually only one vocalist is stationed with each band.
“What an opportunity [to be a part of the U.S. Navy Band],” says Senior Chief Musician Russell Rathier. “My Navy career has allowed me to perform in 49 states at venues from Carnegie Hall to community bandstands, for an audience of millions tuning in to a national event, or for the immediate family of a fallen sailor.
“Speaking of family, there are few opportunities in music to perform with the same people for 20 to 30 years. These bonds support the artist in so many phases of life. Professionally, the potential for upward mobility is limitless.”
Chief Musician Hinton remembers, “I have been in the Navy Band since 1992, and as music director of the Sea Chanters since 2000. My most memorable moments have been since I’ve been with this group. The most emotionally powerful moments were the memorial services after Sept. 11, 2001 at the National Cathedral and the Pentagon. The most enjoyable was the premiere of [the movie] Pearl Harbor, in Honolulu in 2000. Five days in Hawaii—tough job!”
Senior Chief Musician Karen Leigh Campbell loves to tell about the careers available to professional musicians in the military.
“Where can you sing Carmen for 3,700 patrons … Eliza from My Fair Lady and Adelaide from Guys and Dolls at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Tweety Bird perched atop a functional swing in front of 10,000 excited children, Queen Isabella in Christopher Columbus Discovers America in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba … be complimented for your Hanukkah feature by television audiences as far away as the Middle East and Asia and for your Christmas carols by the president of the United States? As a member of the Navy’s official chorus, the Sea Chanters! Such are just some of my memories as one of the original women in this remarkable ensemble. As the recruiter had promised, it’s not just a job—it’s an adventure!”
The Navy screens Sea Chanters applicants carefully. Solid vocal training, excellent musical awareness, and a strong background in performance are expected, says Hinton.
Rathier explains, “A successful candidate has to be in command of his or her instrument. Sight-reading skills are a must … a sailor is on-duty 24/7. We can report and sing at 0530 in the morning, and we can sing at midnight after a trans-continental flight. That schedule, and its wide variety of concert opportunities, demands a performer with great stamina and engaging stage presence.”
“The candidate must undergo a security investigation to be able to perform for the president and other world leaders,” adds Campbell, who describes the audition process as a rigorous one.
First, the applicant must pass a preliminary screening, and then come to Washington to audition in person. For the first round of auditions, the applicant is behind a screen, so that the auditioners evaluate only tone quality. The second round is more traditional and the screen is removed, so that the panel can assess the applicant’s ability to communicate expression and emotion. After these rounds, finalists are announced. Various members of command, including officers and career counselors, then interview the first-choice applicant.
“If it seems they’re going to be a good fit, since they’re going to be stuck for at least four years (and, we hope, at least 20), we want to make sure they’re well aware of what they’re getting into,” explains Campbell. “We don’t believe in making false promises! That way we can also be available to them for questions they have, and we can screen them with the preliminary questions that might eliminate them in a security clearance, so that if simple clarifications need to be made, that can be done—and if a person needs to bow out gracefully, they can do that.”
Once the Sea Chanters offer a position to an applicant and the applicant accepts, the new Sea Chanter reports for eight weeks of recruit training (naval basic training) after which their tour of duty begins.
The minimum enlistment requirement in the Navy is four years. Chief Musician Keith Hinton of the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters will also be at this year’s Classical Singer Convention AudComps and will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Despite all the benefits that come with a military enlistment, these officials are not blind to the challenges that come with the job.
“It’s, well … the military,” Gabbard laughs. “Although full-time professionals in the military’s special musical units are hired to play or sing, and do this virtually all the time, they are still joining the service and swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution with their lives. Although this is surely a distinct honor, deciding to take this step is a very personal and difficult decision that a person has to make, and not everyone can take that step.”
Dolan continues, “One of the biggest challenges of being in the Singing Sergeants is our schedule, as it can be highly unpredictable. The demands of the mission cause our performance and rehearsal schedule to be in constant flux. Musically, it’s really challenging to keep up with the wide variety of performances and styles of music we do. But this is the kind of challenge I personally enjoy.”
And for some, the challenge is living with moral tension. John Frankhauser, a former Air Force Singing Sergeant, was a pacifist when he was about to be drafted during the Vietnam War. When he was made aware of an opening for a bass in the Singing Sergeants, he auditioned and was accepted, and spent his military service singing.
“Though it was a struggle to know I was part of a whole system I disagreed with, I must admit that those were the best four years of my life. As a performing group, we really had fun! Getting to travel and being ‘world famous’ can be rather enjoyable. One time an older lady came up to one of the men in the chorus and said in an awed voice, ‘I’ve never touched a Singing Sergeant before!’ The benefits certainly were good, too. The Air Force paid significantly for me to get my masters in music from the Catholic University of America.”
Others have made their careers as professional musicians in the U.S. military. Dudley has been in the U.S. Army Band for 31 years.
“I haven’t regretted a day of it,” he says. “It’s been an absolutely wonderful, magnificent job.
“As for personal highlights, I have been selected for the last two presidential inaugurals to be the world-wide television announcer for the ceremonies … I’ve been a producer and performer of and in inaugural events for Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and the current president,” he continues. “I’ve done solo shots with the Boston Pops—I did a Copland piece called ‘Lincoln Portrait.’ … I was present for the signing of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, the internment of the Unknown Soldier from Vietnam, Kennedy Center honors, and I’ve been a featured soloist in Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. … Each day brings anticipation of something new.”
Gabbard, who has been with the Soldiers’ Chorus since 1987, is just as excited about the highlights of his career.
“I’ve sung in all 50 states and several foreign countries, from Oslo, Norway to Barrow, Alaska. I doubt if any Met winners have performed for the great citizens of Barrow!
“The first orchestral recording I ever heard, as a kid of 6, was of the Boston Pops. Twenty-five years later, I stood on the stage of Symphony Hall, performing with them. I grew up watching the NFL Game of the Week. Less than one month after 9/11, I was singing the national anthem in Giants Stadium for 80,000 patriotic football fans and over a million listeners on CBS radio. … Where else could I have had these great opportunities?
“Singing in the service is a very rewarding and challenging career. The varying styles required demand that one be absolutely in tiptop shape vocally, and possess a solid, secure technique. Representing our great military, the thousands of brave men and women who place their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, demands a serious musician who can contribute to the very best of his or her ability.”
Dudley reminds us, “Nothing becomes a viable option in life until it has been completely and fully investigated. To see a job announcement or audition announcement that we put out and blow it off because it has the word ‘military’ associated with it, well, it should be investigated completely. There’s no commitment in investigating.”
Note: Some singers wonder whether they can take singing jobs outside of the military. The Singing Sergeants’ website says: “If you wish, you may participate as a civilian in the D.C. area’s active and vibrant performing arts community or give private lessons to music students. However, remember that if a scheduling conflict should arise, your Air Force Band commitments must be met first.”
MSgt Dolan explains, “In more practical terms, it is extremely difficult for a person to perform in an opera or show outside of The Singing Sergeants, due to the extensive rehearsal schedule that type of performing requires.
“Many of our singers hold church jobs. Although conflicts with church jobs do arise, many choirmasters are eager to have us fill their ranks and are more than willing to work with our schedule. Additionally, because Washington, D.C. is such a transient area, many church choirs have extensive substitute rosters. Washington, D.C. also has a few part-time professional choirs that concertize throughout the area. Finally, as our schedule permits, there’s ample opportunity to be contracted as an oratorio/concert soloist or as a ringer in one of the many concert choirs throughout the region.”
Dudley adds, “Yes, one can accept performance jobs outside the military. Outside employment is not limited to music—individuals can do whatever they like, as long as supplemental employment doesn’t interfere with their primary responsibilities.
“Performers and employers [of all kinds] must understand from the outset that Army duties and commitments must always come first, and the potential for conflicts does exist. If an individual accepts an outside job and a duty commitment comes in for that same time, cancellations can and will happen. Those occasions are rare, but they do occur. Most of our people will make sure that the potential employer is aware of the possibility and take steps to provide an adequate substitute if at all possible. Generally speaking, though, we can accommodate most of the situations that arise.”
For more information:
The U.S. Air Force Band: www.usafband.com
The U.S. Army Chorus: www.army.mil/armyband
The U.S. Army Chorale: www.usarmyband.com
The U.S. Army Field Band Soldiers’ Chorus:
www.army.mil/fieldband
The U.S. Coast Guard Band: www.uscg.mil/band
The U.S. Marines Band “The President’s Own”:
www.marineband.usmc.mil
The U.S. Navy Band:
www.navyband.navy.mil
The Canadian Air Force Central Band: www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/central_band
The National Band of the Naval Reserve: www.navres.forces.gc.ca/navres/HQ-QG/activite/musique/index_e.htm
The Band of the Royal Military College of Canada: www.rmc.ca/other/rmc_band
The Royal Military School of Music:
www.army.mod.uk/
school_of_army_music.htm
The Band of the Welsh Guards: www.army.mod.uk/ceremonialandheritage/household/images/welsh_band.htm
