Photo By Cpl. Corey Blodgett | Staff Sgt. Michael A. July, the III MEF Band's enlisted conductor, and Capt. Hirohide...... read more read more
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by Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett
III Marine Expeditionary Force PAO
OKINAWA, Japan -- U.S. Marine and Japanese Ground Self Defense Force musicians played for a crowd of thousands of Americans and Okinawans at the Okinawa Civic Hall Oct. 26 during the 11th annual Friendship Through Music Combined Band Concert.
The III Marine Expeditionary Force Band and the Japanese 1st Combined Brigade Band have performed together for the concert since 1995.
The combined concert was initiated by Chief Warrant Officer Rob Farmer, then the III MEF band director, to enhance the American and Okinawan relationship, according to Staff Sgt. Michael A. July, the III MEF Band's enlisted conductor.
"It brings everyone together," July said. "It shows that we're not that different because we all enjoy music."
The Marines and the Japanese troops performed and practiced together building friendships along the way despite the language barrier, July added.
"Music definitely crosses cultural boundaries," he said. "We had a translator to help us converse with the Japanese, but the Marines really got by with hand signals and facial expressions just fine."
Other band members agreed that a mutual affection for making music was all that was needed to overcome cultural obstacles.
"Music is universal," said Sgt. Robert C. Hungerford, a tuba instrumentalist with the III MEF Band. "It was easy to work with the Japanese and extremely easy to make friends with them just because of our mutual passions."
Both bands practiced individually before coming together for two combined rehearsals before the concert.
"It was easy working with the 1st Combined Brigade Band because they're talented and they really know what they're doing," 23-year-old Laurel, Md. native said.
The concert opened with a combined performance of the U.S. and Japanese national anthems.
The 1st Combined Brigade Band, conducted by Capt. Hirohide Ogawa, then performed the first musical selections: "Pomp and Circumstance No. 4," "Love Thoughts" and "Japanese Folk Song Medley."
Led by July, the III MEF band followed the performance with renditions of "Hounds of Spring," "Procession of Nobles," "Mlada" and a performance of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" that included vocals from July's wife Keely J. July, a former saxophonist and vocalist for the band.
The two bands joined for the final performances, playing "Valdres," "Triumphal Return," "Aida" and "West Side Story."
In addition to the Friendship Through Music Concert, the III MEF Band performs two other free concerts on Okinawa annually. The next is a Christmas concert in December.
| Date Taken: | 10.26.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2006 09:57 |
| Story ID: | 8210 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 133 |
| Downloads: | 80 |
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