Free Performance at Lyndon State

VT’S 40TH ARMY BAND, MARCH 15

February 28, 2012

It will be easy to pick out Thom Anderson when Vermont’s 40th Army Band plays the opening bars to “The Marine’s Hymn.” He’ll be the one “covered in goose bumps.” Advisor to the Lyndon State Veteran’s Club, this former Marine hopes to “hear his favorite patriotic song.” Club President, Army (Ret.) Mark Hoffmann is partial to “The Caisson Song.”

Vermont’s 40th Army Band visits Lyndon State College’s Alexander Twilight Theatre on March 15. This year’s concert will feature selections from Johann Strauss, Clare Grundman and John Williams-the composer of the “Star Wars” theme and most of the music heard in Steven Spielberg’s films. The performance begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The concert is co-sponsored by the LSC Veteran’s Club.

Bandmaster Chief Warrant Officer David A. Myers will be conducting the band. Myers has been a member of the band for over thirty years and is well known nationally as both a composer and conductor of band music.

Members of the 40th Army Band serve one weekend a month and two weeks of annual training each year in the Vermont Army National Guard. As civilians, they work in diverse fields: education, law, medicine, technology, and government public service. Nearly half of the members have attained a bachelor’s or master’s degree in music. The band is stationed at Camp Johnson in Colchester.

The band has received accolades in more than music by earning the Eisenhower Trophy, the Pershing Award, and the Adjutant General’s Match Trophy. These awards, given to units that excel in outstanding rifle marksmanship and overall military performance, prove that the band lives up to its nickname, “The 40th Army Shootin’ Tootin’ Band.”