FORT BRAGG, N.C. (April 3, 2015) -- U.S. Army Forces Command's musical element - The Army Ground Forces Band - performed with guest conductor, Dr. Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant during a "Masterworks Series" performance at the High Point Theatre March 31.
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division All American Band and Chorus, the West Point Band and civilian musicians from throughout North Carolina played alongside the Army Ground Forces Band.
Just as the much of the Army's structure is modular, Army bands have a similar configuration. For example, where typical units have squads, detachments or companies, Army bands have musical performance teams, such as brass quintets, woodwind quintets and rock bands.
The Army Ground Forces Band has 11 such teams, forming additional ensembles based on the specific desires or requirements of the supported military unit or civilian/community host.
The performance with Dr. Mösenbichler-Bryant brought everyone together.
"This concert, and the Masterworks Series, is a chance for the band to come together. It's a key collective training event for us. It allows us to come together and sharpen our skills," said Capt. Dae Kim, commander and conductor of the Army Ground Forces Band.
The skill-sharpening was done with an experienced conductor, whose training began at age 16.
Mösenbichler-Bryant is the assistant professor of the Practice of Music and Director of the Duke University Wind Symphony. She also conducts the Duke Medicine Orchestra and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Wind Ensemble.
"The music's probably a lot more difficult than your normal mission at headquarters or on the parade field. So, it's a way for us to sort of validate that, yes, we are still playing at the top levels because these musicians are auditioned and pretty much the best there is in the Army," said Kim.
Mösenbichler-Bryant brought her passion for conducting to the performance.
"My role as the conductor is to bring the dots that I see on the page, and that the musicians see on the page, to life. For me it is really important to show it through my body and through the motions; to really encourage the musicians to bring out certain lines, and to get them to play out that they see on the page," said Mösenbichler-Bryant.
Appreciation for the performance could be seen in the smiles and enthusiastic applause of the estimated more than 900 people in the audience.
During the standing ovation at concert's end, an audience member stood tall, rendered a salute to the band and said with conviction, "Thank you for your service."
The excitement was shared by Mösenbichler-Bryant, who after the concert said, "I'm sad that it's over, but it was an amazing experience. They played with so much energy and with so much passion. Everything came together. Just amazing."
For more on the Army Ground Forces Band, see www.forscom.army.mil/band.
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