By Jackie Pennoyer
Contributing Writer, Fort Lee Public Affairs Office
DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. - On the morning of March 28, 10 members of Fort Lee's 392nd Army Band loaded drums, guitars and other music instruments into a van and parted for Sutherland Elementary School ... leaving behind technical rhetoric, ceremonial formalities and any expectation of idyllic order.
They arrived sometime between first and second period and quickly transformed the school auditorium into a working concert hall. Speakers flanked both corners of the stage. Mics popped to life as they were plugged into sound boards. Spontaneous bursts of "Star Wars" theme music and Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk" echoed down the halls as sound checks were conducted.
With almost 30 shows down and roughly a dozen to go, the performance at Sutherland marked a closing-in-on-the-finish-line point in the band's six-week school outreach initiative known as Music in Our Schools - part of a nationwide music education campaign promoted by the National Education Association. The 392nd has donated its talents to the program every year since it started in March 2011.
Throughout the course of the 2018 MIOS lineup, the 392nd's three musical performance teams - a rock band, brass quintet and woodwind sextet - will have traveled over 30 hours by bus; visited approximately 40 elementary, middle and high schools in the greater Tri-Cities and Richmond area; and reached an audience of an estimated 13,000 students, according to the band's operations division.
On this morning, it would be Sutherland Elementary School Principal Michelle Powell who would welcome the military musicians when the room settled into silence.
"We are delighted to have the 392nd Army Band with us," she informed the school's 500 student attendees. "They are out of Fort Lee, and they are going to rock and roll."
The band's sixth performance at the school was greeted with enthusiastic applause by the youngsters.
Lead guitarist Sgt. Tom Katsiyiannis expertly fingered the hit tune "Nothing Holding Me Back" by Sean Mendez as the concert opener. His hollow notes were followed with drums by Spc. C. J. Powers, bass by Spc. Andrew Webb, vocals by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Garett and an orchestra of sounds from other bandmembers.
"Energy goes through the room like a lightning bolt," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Landrum, band commander, in reference to the seismic shift that takes place at the beginning of these performances. "Everything devolves into this mass enjoyment. You can see it. It creates an excitement around music."
By coupling their individual creativity, palpable passion for music and philanthropic spirit with their iconic uniform and professionalism, the musically talented Soldiers are able to present an unorthodox glimpse into the Army's enterprise mission as a premier fighting force and connect with some of the community's smallest citizens, Landrum added.
"There's always going to be a certain level of disconnect between the American population and the military," he said. "We try to be a force that bridges that gap. The military creates weapons systems and strategies that could be interpreted as influencing people based on the threat of violence or intimidation. We're the weapon system that, by pulling the trigger, builds a relationship."
Throughout the Sutherland performance, the students could hardly maintain their seats, wiggling and belting out the lyrics to top-hit songs. When the band started "Human" by Rag'n'Bone Man, the teachers invited them to stand up and dance, which increased the excitement tenfold.
"It's an emotional experience for the band, too," observed 1st Sgt. Stephanie Doehr, the 392nd's senior enlisted leader. "Suddenly, these kids - some of whom may struggle in school or be introverted - are now openly expressing themselves. It's so powerful."
Landrum also pointed out the impact the band's performances have on students, saying it goes well beyond an hour of entertainment.
"The biggest takeaway for students is a general appreciation of music," he said. "Some elementary and middle school programs may not have instrumental music instruction. We give them exposure to these instruments and an opportunity to see someone who can play and that they are able to be successful, have fun, be creative and have an actual job."
According to Principal Powell, the 392nd Army Band visit remains a highly-anticipated event for the kids at Sutherland and suggested that, for some students, it may be a first-time exposure to live music.
"I don't know if they've ever been able to go to a concert or see musicians play," she said. "In this educational setting, though, it is just really cool for them to see how all these instruments come together to recreate the songs they hear on the radio. It's also an opportunity to see how multifaceted the Army can be. These guys were awesome. They are so talented. It's a great learning initiative all the way around."
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