Subscribe
SOUTH CHINA SEA – Every command hosts a variety of official ceremonies, special events for holidays, Sailor recognition and national observances. All are conducted professionally and with dignity, but the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) has elevated its events with a special team. The ship’s Music Club has kicked these events up a few notches with its talented group Sailors that are bringing excitement and creating special atmospheres around the ship.
Music Club has become a staple during events hosted aboard Vinson, crediting much of its success to Yeoman 2nd Class Maria Lugo and Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Raydolph Reed. Their collaboration with command leadership has transformed the club into a vibrant outlet for musical expression that inspires both performers and listeners alike.
“Working with former [Executive Officer], Capt. Erik Kenny, we ended up going through paperwork to make it an actual club,” said Reed. “We started out with five people, and it grew as time went by.”
Since its creation, the Music Club has continued to evolve and thrive, and the club’s existence provides many opportunities for Sailors to showcase their talents during an array of events.
“We’ve supported two big-top events, one change of command ceremony, three wardroom brunches, three Sailor of the Quarter dinners, three command concerts, and several retirement and commissioning ceremonies,” said Lugo.
For Lugo, the Music Club has provided a way for her to assist others in furthering their musical aspirations and also a way for her to continue to grow in her artistry and showcase her own talent.
“For my first three years in the Navy, I didn’t sing at all,” said Lugo. “It wasn’t until the deployment in 2021 where I stumbled into the talent show. I made it through a couple rounds with classical singing and I saw that people actually liked music on the ship. After I started singing for retirement ceremonies and different ship events.”
Performing has reignited Lugo’s passion for music and is inspiring her to pursue it more seriously.
“You always have it with you. You sing in the shower and wherever you can,” said Lugo. “My voice blossomed once I began leading the Music Club and started actually training, because you can lose it after a while.”
Recognizing that musicianship requires consistent practice, Lugo and Reed took it upon themselves to create an organization where Sailors, who share a love for music, can come together, help one other grow and provide an outlet for them to share their passion.
“It’s hard being a musician in the Navy,” said Lugo. “We aren’t just Sailors. We’re people with dreams and those dreams make us happy. So why not bring that here if we’re able to?”
For Sailors like Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Christian Slate, the Music Club has been a lifeline. After taking an 11-year hiatus from singing, he rediscovered his voice while singing with Music Club and uses it as a means to process the hardships he’s endured.
“I love music so much – it helps me focus on what I love to do,” said Slate. “I am able to forget about being away from home for an hour or two and I get to perform in front of people again, which also feels really good. I lost a love for music after my mother died because she was originally the one pushing me toward it. It took me a while to work up the courage to start doing it again.”
The Music Club meets every Friday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the ESO Classroom. Each session caters to the aspirations of the musician, and offers everything from lessons and group collaborations to special event preparations, such as holiday concerts or Sailor of the Quarter dinners.
“As of right now, we have Sailors who can teach guitar, flute, piccolo, and voice. When you come to Music Club, let us know what you are interested in learning, and we can connect you with someone who can help,” said Lugo. “Please keep in mind that we only have a few Sailors who can teach instrument lessons using their own instruments.”
Whether you’re an experienced musician or a curious beginner, the Music Club welcomes anyone with a passion for music and a desire to learn.
| Date Taken: | 01.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.04.2025 22:07 |
| Story ID: | 489854 |
| Location: | SOUTH CHINA SEA |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, America’s Favorite Music Club, by SN Amber Rivette, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
