GREENEVILLE – Honor military veterans and enjoy an evening of stirring patriotic music by attending “A Veterans Day Celebration” performed by the Tusculum University Community Band.
The Tusculum University Community Band will have its first concert of the season Monday, Nov. 11.
The band will hold the concert on Veterans Day Monday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at Niswonger Performing Arts Center. In addition to music, the event will include the Greeneville High School ROTC conducting a posting of the colors ceremony and appearances by special guests Cal Doty, mayor of Greeneville, and Alan Corley, mayor of the City of Tusculum.
The concert is free, but donations are welcome.
“We wanted to add a concert this season, and Veterans Day is the perfect addition to our schedule,” said Chris Chambers, the band’s music director and conductor. “This concert will provide everyone with a great opportunity to thank our veterans for their service and their defense of our country’s freedoms. The band has worked diligently to create a show that will reinforce one’s pride to be an American and celebrate our veterans.”
The songs the band will perform are:
- “American Fanfare” by Rick Kirby
- “Armed Forces Salute” arranged by Bob Lowden
- “Shenandoah” by Frank Ticheli
- “Gettysburg Address” arranged by Michael Story
- “American Patrol” by F.W. Meacham
- “Band of Brothers” arranged by Jerry Brubaker
- “The Blue and the Gray” by Clare Grundman
- “Songs for America” arranged by James Swearingen
- “Lest We Forget” arranged by James Swearingen
- “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Souza
Chambers said Doty will read the Gettysburg Address while the band plays the song by the same name. During the “Armed Forces Salute,” people in the audience who are veterans are currently serving in the military will be asked to stand when the band plays the portion of the song for their branch.
Members of the Tusculum University Community Band rehearse for their upcoming concert.
Chris Chambers conducts at a recent rehearsal for the Tusculum University Community Band.
Having played in the Tusculum University Community Band for the last three years and most recently served additionally as emcee at performances, Chambers is now serving as the music director and conductor. He is also an adjunct music faculty member at the university and facilitated the creation of the Tusculum Community Band Association.
Chambers has conducted middle school and high school bands during many festivals in the Northeast. He has also conducted and performed in musicals such as “West Side Story,” “Chicago,” “Damn Yankees,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” He has stayed sharp with his playing by performing with the Tri-County Symphonic Band and the Cape Cod Moonlighters Swing Band.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied with the legendary Andy McGhee; a master’s in music education from Boston University; and a certificate of advanced graduation studies in educational leadership and management from Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts.
Chambers is also a local real estate agent and regional sales manager for Camcor Inc.
In addition to the Veterans Day event, the community band will perform its Christmas concert Tuesday, Dec. 17, in the Marilyn duBrisk Theatre on the Tusculum campus. The band will follow that with its pops concert in the duBrisk Theatre Tuesday, March 4, and the spring concert Tuesday, May 13.
Anyone who has questions about the Veterans Day concert or the others or would like to join the band can email Chambers at cchambers@tusculum.edu.