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SCRANTON— The U.S. Navy Band, an extension of the uniformed services, staffed with active duty soldiers who double as musicians in an effort to reach the public through the universal language of music, will perform twice this weekend.
The Navy Band Northeast’s Pops Ensemble is playing at 7 p.m. on March 13 at the theater at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine St. The marching band will also play at 11 a.m. on March 14, leading the Scranton St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The band tours throughout the northeast. This allows the band to reach audiences in areas that do not have opportunities to see the Navy’s ensemble on a regular basis. The ensemble has 35 musicians playing the woodwinds, brass winds and rhythm instruments.
They marched in Scranton’s parade in 2009 and 2012 and are excited to be part of the celebration once again.
“Playing at concerts and parades is a great public outreach tool for the Navy,” said director Lt. Gregory Fritz. “It is also a great recruiting tool for the band and a diplomatic tool. It lets the American public know what the Navy is doing.”
Fritz has been in U.S. Navy for the past 17 years and was recently commissioned as an officer and director of the Navy Band Northeast. He was an enlisted percussionist and has been in Navy bands all over the continental U.S. and overseas.
“Those in the Navy Band are considered active duty,” Fritz said. “They musicians are in the Navy. They enlisted and went to boot camp. The only person in the band who is an officer is the director.”
The Scranton parade committee chairman requested the band’s presence because, according to Jim Cullen, director of the theater at Lackawanna College, “the parade begins with a military band every year.”
“Lackawanna College has always been instrumental in presenting military band concerts,” Cullen said. “We present several per year and are in contact with the Armed Forces Committee Association. So, when the parade committed was looking for a location for a concert, we were a natural choice and it was a natural yes.”
Fritz said the concert is a great way for community members to see the band in a different setting. Most people are used to seeing them in a parade but at a concert there is a vocalist and music for all ages, ranging from patriotic to Broadway songs.
“We will always recognize veterans who come to the concerts,” he said. “We hope the community comes out to see the show.”