May 24, 2014
Faith Lutheran Church Presents
The U.S. Army Brass Quintet
Saturday, June 7, 7 p.m. § Faith Lutheran Church
The famed group will perform will perform patriotic selections, rousing marches, popular Broadway selections and other favorites. Master Sergeant Robert McDonald, baritone, from The U.S. Army Chorus, will perform popular Broadway selections with the group.
(Sarasota, FL) The U.S. Army Brass Quintet of The U.S. Army Band (“Pershing’s Own”) will perform patriotic selections, rousing marches, popular Broadway selections and other favorites, Saturday, June 7, 7 p.m., at Faith Lutheran Church, 7750 Beneva Road, Sarasota. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 941-924-4664 or visit www.faithsarasota.com.
Dr. Joseph Holt, director of music at Faith Lutheran Church and artistic director of Gloria Musicae, says that he’s thrilled that area audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of this famed and elite group of musicians from Washington, DC. He says that an added treat is that Master Sergeant Bob McDonald, baritone, from The U.S. Army Chorus, will perform popular Broadway selections with the group. MSG McDonald has performed around the country as army musician and in operatic performances, including performances with the Sarasota Orchestra for the Tenth Anniversary Commemoration of 9/11. Holt, who retired to Sarasota after serving more than 20 years as principal pianist with The United States Army Chorus, will accompany McDonald on piano.
While in the area, the U.S. Army Brass Quintet will also perform during the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final at The Ringling on Thursday, June 5, along with Gloria Musicae Singers and soloist Maria Wirries. The group will also perform with MSG McDonald at Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota on Friday, June 6, 6:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County and the Sarasota Downtown Merchants Association.
Since its inception in 1972, The U.S. Army Brass Quintet has gained a reputation as one of the most highly respected and sought after groups of its kind. The ensemble has appeared before audiences and dignitaries in 48 states and 14 foreign countries. An element of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC, The U.S. Army Brass Quintet has performed at the White House, presidential inaugurations, and official state ceremonies in the Nation’s Capital. It has been selected repeatedly as the first ensemble to honor new presidents with the traditional “Hail to the Chief” on live national broadcasts. In addition, The U.S. Army Brass Quintet frequently provides musical support for special events hosted by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, and the Army Chief of Staff, as well as for ceremonies supporting the Military District of Washington.
The group’s repertoire includes more than 500 selections from all eras and genres of classical and popular music, interactive entertainment, video, and works for children’s concerts. The Brass Quintet’s library also includes historic musical selections from the American Civil War, which the ensemble enjoys performing on authentic instruments.
The U.S. Army Brass Quintet also continues a long tradition in support of music education. The ensemble’s outreach activities include frequent appearances at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, The U.S. Army Band’s annual Tuba-Euphonium Conference, and at high schools, universities, and conservatories throughout the United States and around the world.
Master Sergeant Robert McDonald enjoys a diverse career that crosses many artistic disciplines, including musical theater, opera, and the concert stage, as well as his jobs as baritone, announcer, and assistant group leader for The U.S. Army Chorus. McDonald has also appeared as baritone soloist with such organizations as The Choral Arts Society of Washington, the Folger Consort, the New Dominion Chorale and, here in Sarasota, with Gloria Musicae. McDonald has also directed numerous student musicals at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington to high acclaim. An avid sports enthusiast, McDonald is a familiar face to DC hockey fans, as he is a regular national anthem singer for the Washington Capitals. McDonald resides in Arlington, VA, with his wife Anna.
For more information about this concert at Faith Lutheran, visit www.faithsarasota.com or call 941-924-4664.
