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Singing Sergeants to Pay Tribute at Reunion Concert

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian McCurdy
  • The USAF Band
BOLLING AFB, D.C. --  The Singing Sergeants will perform a special alumni concert on Saturday, August 7, at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, located at 1313 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., at 7:30 p.m. The program will feature past and present members of the official chorus of the United States Air Force. Retired Lt. Col. Craig Jessop, former conductor of the Singing Sergeants and former award-winning conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, will conduct the program.

The program will consist of selections presented by many different configurations of performers, beginning with a combined chorus of current chorus members and over 40 alumni. A combined Men's Chorus will follow focusing on the work of three of the former USAF Band arrangers.

First, there will be a tribute to retired Chief Master Sgt. Floyd Werle, who passed away on July 19 at the age of 81. Chief Werle was the Chief Composer and Arranger for The United States Air Force Band for 30 years, and his stirring compositions have instilled patriotism in audiences worldwide for over 60 years.

The other tributes by the combined Men's Chorus will include works saluting the distinguished careers of Ivan Genuchi and Bob Walters. The mixed Reunion Chorus will perform an Irving Berlin medley by retired Chief Master Sgt. Michael Davis. Chief Davis is currently the Composer and Arranger for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The current Singing Sergeants will be featured in an original arrangement by bass section member Tech. Sgt. Ben Park.

Colonel Jessop was the Conductor of the Singing Sergeants from 1980-1987, and also served as Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band in Ramstein, Germany and the USAF Heartland of America Band at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Colonel Jessop began his tenure with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as Associate Director in 1995, and assumed the position of Music Director in 1999. He served in that capacity until 2008, when he was named Dean of the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

The Singing Sergeants has performed for every U.S. President since Harry S. Truman, and their legacy spans over 60 years. The United States Air Force Singing Sergeants has brought the music of America and the best in choral music, not just to our own citizens and to servicemembers stationed throughout the world, but also to people around the globe. The Singing Sergeants is proud to represent our country and our Air Force as a component of "America's International Musical Ambassadors"--The United States Air Force Band.