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The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters" chorus is
the official chorus of the United States Navy. The ensemble performs
a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, including
the sea chantey, to Broadway musicals. Under the leadership of
Chief Musician Georgina L. Todd, the Sea Chanters appear throughout
the United States and often perform at the White House, the Vice
President's home and for other Washington dignitaries. In
1956, Lt. Harold Fultz, then the Band's assistant leader,
organized a group from the Navy School of Music in Anacostia to
sing chanteys and patriotic songs for the State of the Nation dinner.
An immediate success, Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations,
transferred them to the Navy Band, named them the "Sea Chanters"
and tasked this all-male chorus with perpetuating the songs of the
sea. In 1980, the group added women to their ranks and expanded
their repertoire to include everything from Brahms to Broadway.
Today,
the Sea Chanters are one of the most dynamic vocal ensembles in
the country and are frequently found at the center of our most important
national events, including the 55th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony
in 2005. They have played a vital role in comforting the nation
in times of mourning, including appearances at memorials for the
astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia and the Presidential wreath
laying ceremony at the United Airlines Flight 93 crashsite in Shanksville,
Pa. Their performance of "Amazing Grace" at the National
Day of Prayer and Remembrance at the National Cathedral in Washington
after the events of 9/11 inspired all in attendance as well as a
national television audience. In 1994, the chorus provided music
at the funeral of former President Nixon in Yorba Linda, Calif.,
and the interment of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
at Arlington National Cemetery.
They
have appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors and with the National
Symphony Orchestra for the nationally telecast "National Memorial
Day Concerts" at the U.S. Capitol. In addition the group has
appeared on "Larry King Live" and "CBS This Morning"
as well as at the premier of the movie Pearl Harbor.
Noted choral directors Dale Warland and Donald Neuen have guest
conducted the ensemble, and renowned composers Roger Bourland, William
MacDuff and Lloyd Pfautsch have written works especially for them.
Other notable orchestral appearances include the Boston Pops Esplanade
Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
The Sea Chanters have enjoyed a great reputation performing with
such stars as Perry Como, Marian Anderson and Kenny Rogers.
Throughout
their history, the Sea Chanters have remained true to the Navy's
watchwords of pride and professionalism, and they continue to flourish
in the 21st century and beyond as a vibrant ensemble.
Read
more about the early history of the Sea Chanters.
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