For the first time in its 99 years of service, the U.S. Navy Band performed in South Korea, connecting with the local community and celebrating the long-standing tradition of the wind band. The Navy Band presented five concerts throughout Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do and Seoul between July 13-20 which reached more than 5,000 people. “Musically, the band was outstanding, and well received at every concert we performed,” said U.S. Navy Band’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Robert “Seph” Coats. “It was truly a special experience.”
The band began the eight-day tour with three performances in the historic city of Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, as part of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) International Conference.
WASBE is the only international organization of wind band conductors, composers, performers, publishers, teachers, instrument makers and friends of wind music. The organization is dedicated to enhancing the quality of the wind band throughout the world and exposing its members to new repertoire, musical culture, people and places. The Navy Band represented the United States alongside 2,000 musicians from 30 different countries who attended the conference.
The final two concerts took place in Seoul. The concert at Sungshin Women's University July 19 was part of a special partnership between the U.S. Navy Band, the Sungshin Women's University, U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense. The performance featured students from the university and members of the Ministry of National Defense (M.N.D.) Band.
The final performance July 20 at the War Memorial of Korea was a special collaboration between the U.S. Navy Band, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the War Memorial. Attended by distinguished guests Philip Goldberg, U.S. Ambassador of Korea,; Paik Seung-ju, Chairman of the War Memorial Association; and Rear Adm. Neil Koprowski, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, the musical collaboration symbolized the unwavering partnership between our two nations.
“We are proud to support efforts toward international diplomacy and partnership building that are so important to our nation,” said Coats. “Interacting with concertgoers here in the Republic of Korea has been rewarding, educational, and made it clear to me that there is a deep respect, camaraderie, and appreciation between our two cultures.”