BERLIN, Germany -- The organizer of the annual Berlin Military Music Festival, Klaus
Goerk, welcomed the commander of the 76th Army Band, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daryl
B. Vail, at the traditional bandmaster meeting at Julius-Leber-Kaserne here Oct. 31 with
the statement that he was "very pleased to see his house band again after an absence of
two years."
With the exception of
their two deployment
rotations, the 76th
had been a regular
participant at the
marching show event
since 1998.
The excitement of their
return to Berlin was
visible on the
musicians' faces as
entered Max-
Schmeling-Halle for
rehearsals with 700
fellow musicians
from nine other
countries. The band
ultimately performed
three shows before a
total audience of
25,000, alongside 700
fellow military
musicians from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, Belarus,
India, Mongolia and Germany.
A team led by Col. Dr. Michael Schramm, chief of the German Armed Forces Military
Music Department and musical director and conductor for the large-scale event, directed
and guided the bands; taped positions for the mass band finale; timed individual
marching shows, and answered musical, choreographic and technical questions.
After only a half-day of rehearsals, musicians who never played together, were ready to
perform Wagner's "Meistersinger of Nuernberg" and Verdi's "Prisoners' Chorus" during
the show's mass band finale.
The 76th put its talents to the test during a public dress rehearsal on Friday before
entertaining the crowds Saturday and Sunday. Performing all-time favorites of the big
band and swing era, the Mannheim, Germany-based band took the audience back to the
'30s and '40s and was rewarded with roaring applause.
High-ranking visitors on Saturday evening included Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan, chief
of staff of the German Armed Forces, representing the German Minister of Defense, as
well as representatives of the political, diplomatic, military and cultural sector.
Emphasizing the event's motto,
"Bringing people together through the international
language of music," Schneiderhan welcomed the international guests and wished them interesting encounters, inspiring conversations and the spirit of camaraderie with fellow Soldiers.
The 76th Army Band did just that. During an impromptu jam session after the last show,
band members, together with the band from the United Kingdom, performed for
participants and behind-the-scenes helpers during a social get-together.
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