Army band shares stage with students
BUTLER TWP — Members of the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band were glad to share the stage with musicians from the U.S. Army Field Band Tuesday night in a sold-out performance at Butler Intermediate High School.
Twelve members of the high school band were on stage to play “The March of the Army Field Band.” Eight members of the high school chorus joined the Soldiers Chorus on stage too.
The Butler Eagle sponsored the performance.
“It was really cool to get up on stage with players who perform so dynamically,” Brad Bailey, a senior, said.
A percussionist, Baily played the snare drum Tuesday. He plans a music career, and in the past had been chosen to play with the U.S. Navy Band and the Pittsburgh Symphony.
“It was exhilarating to be onstage with professional musicians,” said Sarah Stovar, a flute player and a senior who also performed before with the U.S. Navy Band.
“It is such a privilege to be with other musicians who spread such joy around the world,” she said.
Rochelle Snyder, a senior clarinet player and a drum major, was impressed by the support the other clarinet players gave her.
“When we were announced, all the clarinets stomped their feet on stage to welcome us,” she said.
Matt Cole, a senior who plays the trombone and is a drum major, was a little nervous.
But he said, “It was great to be up on stage with professional musicians.”
“Trombone players are the same everywhere, a bunch of goofballs, and that helped me,” he said.
Field band members are soldier-musicians who have studied music and performed extensively before entering the service. The Soldiers Chorus, the vocal complement of the band, has 29 vocalists.
The student singers and musicians received their music earlier and rehearsed it a number of times before performing Tuesday.
