WEST POINT, N.Y. (September 9, 2015) -- The U.S Military Academy at West Point Band concluded its 2015 "Music Under the Stars" concert series with the annual Labor Day celebration Sept. 6, at Trophy Point Amphitheater.
For over 60 years the band has put on its Labor Day concert, also known as the "1812 concert", and fireworks display. Welcoming one of the biggest audiences of the year, the band played to over 12,000 people from West Point and the surrounding area.
The band's commander, Lt. Col. Andrew Esch, led the concert band in a series of pieces including Philip Sparke's "Celebration," Eduard Strauss' "Clear Track Polka" and "Shindig" by Don Gillis.
Staff Sgt. Katrina Elsnick, one of the bands newest members, made her solo debut on piccolo during a piece titled "Dance of the Southern Lights," written by retired Master Sgt. Eric Richards, a former staff arranger for the U.S. Army Field Band. The band's new Associate Bandmaster, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael Franz, also made his debut with the concert band as he conducted "Swing, Swing, Swing" by John Williams and an arrangement by Jay Bocook from the motion picture "1941."
The band, using a Facebook poll before the performance, invited members to vote on their favorite instrument they would most like to hear perform the piccolo solo in John Philip Sousa's, "Stars and Stripes Forever."
The winner? The Tuba!
The crowd cheered on Staff Sgt. Rachel Hertzberg as she performed the famous solo with the band, on tuba.
The Benny Havens Band, a popular musical component of the band, got the crowd on their feet with Brad Paisley's "American Saturday Night" and "Comin' to Your City" by Big & Rich. They also performed several original country music songs that they will be recording in Nashville this fall for a USMA at West Point Band country music record which is scheduled to be released next spring.
Keeping with its 60 year tradition, the concert closed with the band's performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," complete with live cannon fire and followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the Hudson River.
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