Meet the Musician

Chief Musician Yolanda C. Pelzer,

Vocals

America the Beautiful featuring vocalist Chief Pelzer performing MUC Robert A. Vuono's arrangement

Chief Musician Yolanda Pelzer, a native of Columbia, S.C., joined the Navy Band Commodores in 1995. Pelzer received the Columbia Urban League’s “Young, Gifted and Black” award in 1990. She served overseas as a member of the United States Army-Europe Soldier’s Chorus from 1991-1993 and was a featured soloist for over 300 concerts in Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and Turkey. In 1993 she transferred to the Military Academy Band at West Point where she served as the vocalist for the Jazz Knights.  She has performed with Clark Terry and the “Great Lakes Experience-Navy Band” in Chicago, with the Commodores in Dublin, and for numerous jazz festivals, including the East Coast Jazz Festival. Pelzer is a former faculty member of the Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. 

A highly requested national anthem singer, Pelzer was the first person to perform at the opening game in the Washington National’s new stadium in 2008. She has also shared the stage with first lady Michelle Obama, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while performing for the unveiling of the bust of Sojourner Truth at the U.S. Capitol. In her free time, she enjoys serving her local church as praise and worship leader.