Finishing 2022 Strong

Fellow Singers, Musicians, Friends and Supporters,

The holidays are a very special time at the Naval Academy, and music is at the heart of it all. From the Holiday Orchestra Concert to the annual Messiah performance… even in the midst of exams and end of year requirements, music kept us in the holiday spirit and gave us memories to carry with us for years to come.

As you reflect on 2022 and prepare for a restorative holiday break, we wanted to take a moment to share a few musical favorites from the holiday season: 

• The Army-Navy game: No matter the outcome, we all have special memories tailgating with Pipes and Drums, singing the National Anthem with the combined choirs, and celebrating big plays with the roaring Drum & Bugle Corps. While millions watched the most anticipated rivalry go into double overtime, we can’t help but reflect that music starts and ends the match as the entire Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen raised their voices to sing the West Point Alma Mater and Navy Blue and Gold

• The 75th annual performance of Handel’s Messiah: The Superintendent called it “the official start to the Naval Academy holiday season,” and we could not agree more! This year’s performance was even more special with the commissioning of an original piece of art capturing the festively decorated Chapel and combined Glee Clubs. This long standing tradition is one of the most cherished memories of music on the Yard and we even hear there’s talk of an alumni performance in the future years so we’ll have to dust off our old copies 

Music is part of the fabric of life at the Naval Academy and we are committed to ensuring that our music programs have the resources to truly thrive and continue to spread music and joy around our nation and the world.

Because of YOUR SUPPORT, Friends of Naval Academy Music has contributed over $50K directly to the USNA Music Department. This has been our strongest fundraising year ever and the work continues!

Will you help us to keep the momentum going?

INCLUDE NAVAL ACADEMY MUSIC IN YOUR END OF YEAR GIVING

Thank you for being a part of this community and for your generous support.

Happy Holidays and best wishes for 2023,

The Friends of Naval Academy Music Board of Directors

Be sure to check your local PBS listings this holiday season to catch a broadcast of the 2022 Messiah Performance

Giving Thanks and Giving Back

We are so thankful for you - the alumni, family, and friends of USNA Music Programs and supporters of Friends of Naval Academy Music (FONAM). Without you, our work and the impact we are able to make for USNA music programs wouldn’t be possible. 

Moving forward into 2023, there are big plans for the Naval Academy’s musical groups and they will need our support more than ever. There are new instruments to be purchased, travel to be funded, and so much more.

Will you help??

Many alumni contribute to FONAM and Naval Academy music through a ~$20 monthly recurring “class year” donation (e.g. $19.89 or $20.11)…on this giving Tuesday, as we recover from Thanksgiving weekend and enter the Holiday Season, we ask you to also consider doing the same.

Set up a recurring "Class Year" contribution to USNA Music

Thank you for your contributions, support, and for being a part of this incredible community.

With Gratitude,

Friends of Naval Academy Music

🎶Come SING with the Glee Club🎶

Calling all former singers!!

JOIN GLEE CLUB REHEARSAL ON THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER

Dr. Aaron Smith has issued an open invitation to all Glee Club Alumni to join the current Glee Club at a rehearsal in the Alumni Hall rehearsal room on Thursday 20 October from 1545-1715. If you live locally or plan to be in Annapolis the weekend of 20-23 October for a Class Reunion, President's Circle and/or Talley Bash, please dust off your Messiah scores and join in a rehearsal that will surely bring back fond memories of your Glee Club years. Just come anytime during the rehearsal period as your schedule permits!

⚓⚓⚓⚓⚓⚓⚓

Another upcoming opportunity to catch USNA Music Groups out on the road -

GLEE CLUB AND PIPES AND DRUMS WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY

11-13 NOVEMBER

The USNA Glee Club and members of the USNA Pipes and Drum Corps will be appearing as Guest Artists with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in Indianapolis over Veteran's Weekend in November. Performances are scheduled for Friday 11 November at 11:00 am, Friday evening 11 November at 8:00 pm, Saturday evening 12 November at 8:00 pm and Sunday afternoon 13 November at 2:00 pm.

Tickets are available at www.IndianapolisSymphony.org and the box office at 317-639-4300. Bring your families, friends and colleagues to see and hear the midshipmen perform to celebrate our nation's heroes over the Holiday Weekend.

Fall at USNA - Reunions and Concerts!

The Fall Semester is in full swing at USNA, with an exciting schedule of musical activities planned - starting this Friday, September 9 at 7pm in Mahan Hall with the 2/C Parent's Weekend Concert. Music groups will be traveling to Detroit, Indianapolis, Richmond, and performing at events around the yard over the next few months. Be sure to check the schedule and catch a performance!

Tickets for ALL events this year are on sale now!

USNA's Chapel will light up again this year (Oct 28-29) for the spectacular Halloween-themed concert showcasing the talents of midshipmen and Chapel Organist Monte Maxwell.

Fall is also the season for many class reunions - a great time to catch up with classmates, company mates, and shipmates! If you have a reunion this year, take the opportunity to catch up with your "Music-mates" too! Help us to spread the word about FONAM's work and the impact any contribution, large or small, can have on the next generation of music at USNA. If you are interested in getting a group of music alumni from your class together during your reunion for a coffee/chat with a FONAM board member to learn more about how to get involved, please reach out.

Wishing you all a wonderful Fall, hope to connect with you soon!

Sincerely,

Friends of Naval Academy Music

I-Day kicks off USNA summer...and SAVE THE DATE

Happy Summer Friends of Naval Academy Music!

As I'm sure you all know, the Naval Academy swore in the class of 2026 this past week. Nothing like I-day to have all of us cruising the wrinkle cream aisle at Target or just being glad that we're not doing pushups in the Annapolis heat and humidity at our age. In any case, it brings back memories.

It has been a banner year for Naval Academy Music. Despite challenges, every group from the Drum & Bugle Corps, Pipes & Drums, Chapel Choirs, Orchestra, and Glee Clubs all created incredible music and represented the Naval Academy in amazing ways.  

At the end of March, right on the heels of a successful Spring Tour, the Glee Clubs were invited to perform at an exclusive gala event to unveil Flagship Valor — an American Airlines Airbus A321 aircraft with a special wrap — a flying tribute dedicated to recipients of the Medal of Honor.

The aircraft depicts major military conflicts and the six characteristics that embody the Medal of Honor and those who have received it. On board, customers can scan QR codes for access to information about the Medal of Honor and its extraordinary recipients, serving as a teaching tool to pass on these remarkable stories for generations to come. 

🎶🥳SAVE THE DATE🎶

Friday, October 21, 2022, 5pm until we run out of steam...
We’re going to do it again...another "TalleyBash!"

The purpose of the event is to get old friends together, raise a glass, sing a song, tell a tale, recognize our major donors, and encourage everyone to become one. We’ll also do some fun things, auction an item or two for FONAM, that sort of thing.

You don’t need to bring anything, we’ll have food and drink aplenty, but a bottle of wine is always welcome. All USNA Music alumni and Friends of Naval Academy Music are welcome. There’s a lot happening that
weekend, and we encourage people with later commitments to come early, and those with early commitments to come late.

RSVP directly to Doc Talley at j.barry.talley@gmail.com.

A Musical Month for USNA!

March was an incredible month for music groups at USNA, including a successful Glee Club tour through Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas, and amazing Gospel Choir performance in Atlanta, all culminating in an Annapolis homecoming concert on April 1. The momentum is just getting started as USNA music enters another exciting month of events and performances. Be sure to catch an event near you - visit the USNA Music Homepage for more details and ticketing info.

Friday April 8 - Organ Recital and Midshipmen Orchestra concert, Annapolis

Friday April 22 - Spring Oratorio (Mahler Symphony #2), Annapolis

Saturday April 9 - Pipes and Drums Tartan Day Parade, New York

Saturday April 23 - Pipes and Drums Southern MD Celtic Festival, St. Leonard, MD

Monday April 18 - Drum and Bugle Corps, Patriots Day Parade, Boston, MA

Friday, April 29 - Drum and Bugle Corps and Trident Brass Spring Concert, Annapolis

Help keep these tours and events going - show your support for USNA Music programs here.

And They're Off!

Their bags are packed, the busses are loaded, today it begins...the Men's and Women's Glee Clubs are ready to head out on this year's Spring Break Tour!

Be sure to catch a performance if they're coming to your town!

NASHVILLE, TN

Sunday 13 March 2022 at 4:00 pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church

3900 West End Avenue

Nashville, TN 37205

HILTON HEAD, SC

Wednesday 16 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church

540 William Hilton Parkway

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

CHARLOTTE, NC

Friday 18 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

First United Methodist Church

501 N Tryon Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

NORFOLK, VA

Saturday 19 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

Christ and St. Luke's Church

560 W Olney Road

Norfolk, VA 23501

Beat the Dark Ages!

Dear friends,

We hope that 2022 is off to a happy, productive, and hopeful start. As USNA weathers through the dark ages, there are brighter days (despite what the groundhog claimed) and exciting events ahead for musical activities.

Fans of classic Broadway movie musicals can warm up at the end of February to hot tunes like Greased Lightnin' in the 2022 USNA Winter Musical "Grease" which will showcase the vocal, acting, dancing, and instrumental talents of so many midshipmen across the Brigade.

Friday, February 25, 2022
     7:00 PM, USNA Mahan Hall

 Saturday, February 26, 2022
     7:00 PM, USNA Mahan Hall

 Sunday, February 27, 2022
     3:00 PM, USNA Mahan Hall

Purchase tickets here.

Further into Spring, the USNA Glee Club takes their world class show on the road….be sure to catch a performance if they are coming to a town near you! All events are open free to the public.

NASHVILLE, TN

Sunday 13 March 2022 at 4:00 pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church

3900 West End Avenue

Nashville, TN 37205

HILTON HEAD, SC

Wednesday 16 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church

540 William Hilton Parkway

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

CHARLOTTE, NC

Friday 18 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

First United Methodist Church

501 N Tryon Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

NORFOLK, VA

Saturday 19 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

Christ and St. Luke's Church

560 W Olney Road

Norfolk, VA 23501

If you haven’t already joined the many alumni who have set up their ~$20 recurring monthly “class year” support (i.e. class of 1997 set up a monthly donation of $19.97, class of 2009 gives $20.09), consider getting that going for 2022. Shout out to the Class of 2020 which has nearly 75% of their music alumni supporting FONAM this way - something for the rest of us to aspire to!!

Show some love to USNA music programs this Valentine's Day by donating to FONAM!

Thank you for helping to make 2022 FONAM and USNA Music's best year yet!

With Sincere Gratitude,

Your Friends at FONAM

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from FONAM

Dear friends, family, and supporters,

The holidays at the Naval Academy mark many special and memorable events.  From the Army-Navy game to the Holiday Orchestra Concert to the annual Messiah performance...even in the midst of exams and end of year requirements, music kept us in the holiday spirit and gave us memories to carry with us for years to come. 

Musical programs at the Naval Academy have thrived in 2021 despite significant challenges, due in no small part to support from Friends of Naval Academy Music, Inc; support made possible by friends and donors like you.  We are unbelievably close to achieving our goal of raising $150K by the end of the year...as you consider your end of year giving, will YOU help us to get there?

2022 will bring exciting new developments for FONAM and for Naval Academy music programs and we can't wait to share them with you in the coming months.

Don't hesitate to reply to this email if you'd like to have a personal conversation with one of us about how your support can and will have a lasting and sustainable impact on the future of Naval Academy music.

With gratitude and best wishes for the holidays,

The FONAM Board of Directors

Fall Fun and Spooky Times with USNA Music

Halloween Concert

It's hard to believe that 25 years ago, the Halloween concert began with just one incredibly talented organist and the chapel organ.  Now, each year, the Naval Academy Chapel is miraculously converted into a Broadway stage, showcasing not only the organ, but the unbelievable musical and technical talents of so many midshipmen. With FONAM's support, imagine what it could be in 25 more years.....  

Click below to share once more in the experience.

Later This Month

For those in the Dallas area, the USNA Glee Clubs and Pipes and Drums will be performing over Veterans Day with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for a three-day “Patriotic Pops” celebration.  The performances are Friday and Saturday evenings, November 12 and 13, and Sunday afternoon, November 14.  Learn more and buy tickets here.

Thank you for being a part of this community.  Please help spread the word about these events and the work of FONAM to friends and classmates and consider making FONAM a part of your end of year giving plans.