Lt. Col. Martin Wehn, Commander of Das German Army Band Hannover, stands to acknowledge the band during Hands Across the Sea, a collaborative concert with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Band, Sept. 27 (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chrissy R...
German Army Sgt. 1st Class Thorsten Sturmhöfel of Das German Army Band Hannover features his vocal talents in a Swing and Latin Michael Bublé medley at a joint concert with the West Point Band, Sept. 27 (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chri...
West Point Band Commander Lt. Col. Andrew Esch leads the combined forces of the West Point Band and Das German Army Band Hannover in performing The Star Spangled Banner at their joint performance, Sept. 27 (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chrissy River...
WEST POINT, N.Y. (October 1, 2015) -- Sept. 27 the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Band presented a joint concert with Das German Army Band Hannover at Eisenhower Hall Theater.
"Hands Across the Sea" celebrated 50 years of close cooperation of the German Army and the United States Military Academy, beginning with the establishment of the position of the German Army Liaison Officer position at West Point in 1965. The West Point Band was proud to join forces with Das German Army Band Hannover on their American tour to commemorate this event as musical ambassadors of their respective nations.
The concert began as the combined bands performed both the German and U.S. national anthems, before splitting up for each band to perform its own set. The West Point Band opened with "Hands Across the Sea," a military march by John Philip Sousa which he addressed "to no particular nation, but to all of America's friends abroad." Also on the program were pieces by American composers, including "Shindig" by Don Gillis, John Mackey's" Xerxes" and a rockin' trombone section feature of "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas.
Das German Army Band Hannover, under the direction of Commander Lt. Col. Martin Wehn, took the stage and delivered a rousing performance of Julius Fucík's "Entry of the Gladiators" and Alfred Reed's Second Suite for Band, "Latino Mexicana." They also featured the vocal talents of German Army Sgt. 1st Class Thorsten Sturmhöfel in a Swing and Latin Michael Bublé medley, before closing with the renowned "Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss Sr.
For the finale, both bands combined into one impressive ensemble to perform Franz von Suppé's "Light Cavalry Overture," as well as music by John Williams, followed by famous German and American marches, "Alte Kameraden" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
Distinguished guests included German Consul, General Brita Wagener; Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen; German Army Liaison Officer to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Lt. Col. Rolf Metz; Dean of the Academic Board, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Brig. Gen. Timothy Trainor and numerous other members of U.S. Military Academy at West Point staff and faculty.
Related Links:
U.S. Military Academy at West Point Band website
U.S. Army Garrison West Point website
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