United States Merchant Marine Academy Regimental Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United States Merchant Marine Academy Regimental Band, designated as "George M. Cohan's Own",[1] is a United States military band and college marching band that currently serves as the official marching band of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The USMMA is the only service academy outside of the six senior military colleges, to maintain a cadet-staffed band for musical purposes. The band, unlike other musical units of service academies, is a co-located full-time ensemble. The band mainly provides ceremonial support for protocol ceremonies and athletic events.
The regimental band routinely performs A Life on the Ocean Wave, the official march of the USMMA and the Star Spangled Banner at all ceremonies. The Academy's modern regimental band succeeded a full-time band that was deactivated following World War II.[2]
As of 2018, the Academy's official website listed the band's director as Lieutenant Commander Bob Nixon.[3] Captain Kenneth Force, who the New York Times described as the "Toscanini of Military Marching Bands," directed the band from 1971 ā 2016.[4][5]
The band was given the designation "George M. Cohan's Own" in 1999 by two of composer George M. Cohan's grandchildren, in recognition of the band's assistance in saving Cohan's seven acre former residence from demolition.[1][6]. In 1999, Midshipman Lester Snyder, a trumpet player from Decatur, Illinois commented on the accomplishment: ''It's a great part of history. Now, I can take my kids here someday when I come back for homecoming. I'll be able to share this with the next generation, and maybe they will get to know something about the feeling of duty and honor to your country.''[6]
The 35-piece band maintains the following ensembles at its disposal:
- Marching Band
- Concert Band
- Brass Quintet
- Fanfare Team[7]