Concert Band: Accolades and Changes

Rehearsal for this year's concert. Video clips
of the performance will be posted soon.

The 2019 performance by the NMA Concert Band will be long be remembered.

Singer MUC Audra Ratliff, an NMA member currently attached to Navy Band Great Lakes, brought the audience to its feet with "America, the Beautiful." Jim Hayward's tenor sax rendition of "When a Man Loves a Woman" drew equal enthusiasm.

But memories of this concert will be tinged with the bittersweet recollection of the announcement that, with this concert, Wilbur Smith has ended his tenure as conductor. This was not a sudden decision; Wilbur has more than once agreed to organize, rehearse and conduct our annual concert for "one more year."

His departure does not leave us in a musical wilderness, however. Wilbur announced that Ray Ascione will assume the duties of concert band conductor. Ray's experience as a Navy bandmaster alone would qualify him for the job. But, just as much, his reputation as an NMA shipmate and frequent guest conductor make him the ideal conductor.

Thanks Smitty, for steering the ship so well, and thanks, Ray, for agreeing to take the helm