III MEF band hosts holiday concert

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Courtney Glen White | Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael Montoya narrates “The Night Before Christmas” during the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band “Spirit of The Season” holiday concert at the Camp Foster Theater Dec. 9. The band offered four concerts to the community playing at both the Camp Foster Theater and the Keystone Theater on Kadena Air Force Base. “The concert offers a variety of holiday songs that are recognizable but changed up in unique ways,” said Cpl. John F. Geary, a trombone player with the band. “Audience members will be quite pleased on how the songs turned out.”  

CAMP FOSTER, AICHI, JAPAN

12.09.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Courtney Glen White 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP FOSTER, Japan - The III Marine Expeditionary Force Band hosted their annual holiday concert Dec. 9 at the Camp Foster Theater.

This year the band offered the community four opportunities to experience their show “Spirit of The Season” playing at both the Keystone Theater on Kadena Air Force Base and the Camp Foster Theater.

“The concert offers a variety of holiday songs that are recognizable but changed up in unique ways,” said Cpl. John F. Geary, a trombone player with the band. “Audience members will be quite pleased on how the songs turned out.”

The band played a variety of songs as a whole and broke down into numerous sub-bands throughout the night.

“We have ‘Semper Five’, ‘The Party Band’, ‘Octa-Shop’ and ‘Electric Typhoon’ performing in addition to the traditional band,” said Geary. “The different arrangements of music and vocals bring a fun diversity to the show.”

The band incorporated two songs from the movie ‘Polar Express’ into the concert which were real crowd pleasers, said Staff Sgt. Franklin Smith, a trombone player with the band.

“The holiday concert is great because it is more children and family oriented,” said Smith. “Families have the opportunity to get together and celebrate the Christmas spirit in a fun environment.”

The concert also included a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” narrated by Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael Montoya and an Armed Forces Medley that offered service members and veterans the opportunity to be acknowledged.

“Concerts are a way to connect with service members and give them a chance to relax and hear familiar tunes,” said Geary. “If people were unable to make it to the holiday show, there are no worries as the band holds concerts throughout the whole year.”

• Date Taken: 12.09.2011
• Date Posted: 12.13.2011 19:40
• Story ID: 81322
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, AICHI, JP