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National Endowment for the Arts Gives a Musical Salute to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune on Independence DayWith the Second Marine Division Band deployed to Iraq, the NEA steps in to uphold a cherished 4th of July musical tradition
July 1, 2005 Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC — On July 4th, the National Endowment for the Arts will help more than 10,000 Marines and their families at Camp Lejeune celebrate the holiday with a special performance of American musical theater and opera. The NEA approached Lejeune officials to offer a replacement for the award-winning Second Marine Division Band, which traditionally performs at this annual event, but is currently deployed to Iraq to support Headquarters Battalion, Second Marine Division. Opera Carolina and the Winston-Salem Symphony will perform a two-hour program under the direction of James Meena that will feature music from musicals such as Showboat and West Side Story as well as popular excerpts from American operas such as Susannah and Candide. The program will also feature several patriotic numbers in honor of Independence Day. "The National Endowment is pleased to partner with Camp Lejeune to provide members of the military and their families with access to high quality American musical theater and opera excerpts," said Wayne S. Brown, Director of the NEA Music and Opera Division. The performance is a preview of Great American Voices, an upcoming NEA initiative that will celebrate the best of American arts by bringing musical performances to military families across the country. Great American Voices is presented in coordination with the Department of Defense and Opera America. Great American Voices is made possible by The Boeing Company. About Opera Carolina and the Winston-Salem Symphony Founded in 1948, Opera Carolina is the largest professional opera company in the Carolinas. The mission of Opera Carolina is to inspire and entertain the region’s diverse community through the presentation of excellent opera, operetta, music theater, and education and outreach programs that elevate the quality of life in the Carolinas. The Winston-Salem Symphony is committed to providing the highest quality symphonic music that is responsive to its diverse community through performances, education and service. The National Endowment for the Arts is a federal agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts – both new and established – bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.
National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency |
