U.S. ARMY EUROPE'S 76TH ARMY BAND PERFORMS WITH FELLOW MILITARY MUSICIANS FROM NINE NATIONS AT BERLI

By Brigitte O'Preska, U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs OfficeJuly 28, 2015

U.S. ARMY EUROPE'S 76TH ARMY BAND PERFORMS WITH FELLOW MILITARY MUSICIANS FROM NINE NATIONS AT BERLIN FESTIVAL
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

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.