Annual concert joins Fort Sill, Cameron University bands

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Band enthusiasts received a double dose of music therapy April 25 when the 77th U.S. Army Band and Cameron University Concert Band merged together for an evening of music at the university's performing arts theatre.

Warrant Officer Matthew David and Dr. Roy Couch, conductors for the two bands, alternately led the evening's performance in front of a full house.

Before the band played each arrangement, David or Couch stepped to a microphone and introduced the piece to the audience. David laughed about it and said it reminded him that public speaking is something he needs to work on. However, those moments drawing the audience further into the concert also reconnected him with his own college days and those performances.

"I always tried to make my recitals more personable, because music is my passion," he said. "It's what I love; anything I can do to increase interest or share that passion that's my goal in life."

Having arrived at Fort Sill no more than six months ago, the concert was David's first collaboration with Couch and his student musicians, and a positive experience for his music professionals.

"Getting together with the Cameron students reminded my band members of their own goals of how they want to further improve as musicians," he said.

As for the work to combine two bands into one, David recognized what needed to be done to produce the optimal result.

"Working with any college, especially a small school, I knew there would be a wide variety of skill levels. I had to plan rehearsals to let certain sounds come through, then left it to my NCOs to work out the details within their sections," he said.

With about three years conducting experience in his resumé and a 2012 graduate of Warrant Officer Candidate School, David appreciated some methods Couch used to lead his band that will aid his continued development as an Army band conductor.

"He has a really interesting way of approaching rehearsals, and it's not all baton technique," he said. "Doctor Couch spent time telling his students about the music piece or encouraging them to listen for a theme; he's such an educator and that inspired me to dig deeper into my scores, too.

Throughout most of the evening, the conductors took turns on the podium while the other waited in the wings for the next arrangement. One particular piece though required both men to be on stage. David picked "Six Studies in English Folks Songs" by Ralph Vaughan-Williams that featured solos written for cellists. However, the warrant officer rewrote the solos to feature his tuba players, many of whom graduated from prestigious music universities.

"When you have great musicians, you naturally want to share their talents with everybody," he said.

Carrying that a step further, David invited Couch, also an accomplished tuba player, to play one of the brief solos.

"I love to play but don't get a chance to that much because of the other duties of leading and recruiting for the band, and teaching classes," said the affable Couch. "It was super stressful to organize the concert, handle all the logistics and prepare to conduct something I work hard at.

"Then, in the middle to put my baton in my pocket and pickup my horn and play ... I was more nervous about that than anything else in the concert," he said.

Couch said such an occurrence is unusual for conductors to perform, and he appreciated the opportunity.

"It was really great to hang out with the other tuba players, which is something I haven't done since graduate school at the University of North Texas," he said.

At the concert's conclusion the audience rose and gave a standing ovation, and gradually the bands parted until the next time they meet again, should schedules permit it.

Three Cameron degree programs prepare students to teach, perform or work in a music-related industry. Couch said playing with the 77th Army Band offered his students another form of education. In the weeks leading up to the performance, they observed professional musicians' practice habits and how they prepare to perform.

"This was a terrific event and indicative of the bonds we have in this community between the fort and the university," said the doctor.

Since the musicians who comprise his band are seeking their niche in the music world, Couch said the collaboration gave them time to talk with Soldiers and gain an understanding of careers in military music. Free from a formal recruiting setting, the interaction allowed students to ask questions and Soldiers to tell them about the Army band lifestyle.

Looking forward, David said the ongoing war effort has changed a lot of band missions to smaller ensembles, even suggesting that may be the future of Army bands. He added that viewpoint contrasted with what warrant officer school taught about including concert band events. He learned it was the band commander's responsibility to emphasis concert band missions and to schedule them.

With summer looming and a full slate of smaller ensemble gigs, David said his vision for full band concerts may have to wait a year. Should he gain approval from higher levels, he hopes to do a summer concert band series here.

"We get a lot of Soldiers coming in with music degrees from prestigious universities, if they lose interest in Army music, they won't re-enlist," he said. "So, we need to pick music that will interest them and encourage them to continue with their Army careers."

Cutlines:

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Warrant Officer Matthew David, 77th Army Band commander and conductor, gives audience members some insight to a piece of music during Cameron University's Spring Concert April 25 at the university theatre. 77th Bandsmen joined the Cameron student concert band for the annual concert.

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Dr. Roy Couch, Cameron University concert band conductor, directs a combined band of Cameron students and 77th Army Band Soldiers during the school's Spring Concert April 25 at the university theatre. Warrant Officer Matthew David, 77th Band commander, also directed the joint band.