Nick Minecci

USAG PAO  

Citizens from across the Frederick community gathered at the Weinberg Center for the Arts here, Jan. 27, for a matinee performance from the United States Army Field Band. Among those in attendence were Brig. Gen. (P) Joseph Caravalho, Jr., commander, U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command; Command Sgt. Maj.Kevin B. Stuart, USAMRMC Command Sgt. Maj.; Col. Allan J. Darden Sr., commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Detrick; Command Sgt. Maj. Cassandra D. Redd, USAG Fort Detrick Command Sgt. Maj.; and Col. Mike Talley, commander, 6th Medical Logistics Management Center.  

According to Master Sgt. David Bullman, Concert Band & Soldiers' Chorus tour coordinator for  The U.S. Army Field Band, the Field Band is separate from the U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own).  

“The U.S. Army Field Band and The U.S. Army Band are obviously both Army bands, but we have very different missions. Our primary mission is to tour the United States performing free public concerts to support the Chief of Public Affairs,” Bullman said.  

“The Army Band's mission is more centered around ceremonial support at Fort Myer [Va.], but they also do a lot of the same types of public outreach performances that we do,” he added. “The Concert Band & Soldiers' Chorus are the two groups that performed at the Weinberg Center. There are 65 Soldiers in the band, and 29 in the chorus,” Bullman said.  

Following the performance, Caravalho said on his Facebook page, “The U.S. Army Field Band was excellent! You haven't lived until you've been to a military band's concert. Of course, the Weinberg Center for the Arts was a phenomenal venue, as well.”  

The Weinberg Center for the Arts, located in the heart of downtown here, has been a part of the local landscape for almost 87 years. Built as the Tivoli Theatre, the building opened Dec. 23, 1926. For almost 50 years it was the premiere movie theatre of Frederick, but was forced to close following damage from a flood in 1976. The then owners of the facility, the Weinberg family, presented it to the city of Frederick as a gift rather than attempt to keep it open as a movie house.  

Now named the  Weinberg Center for the Arts, it still maintains the design and style  it origanlly had in 1926, including an organ, a two-manual, eight-rank Wurlitzer, which is the only original theatre organ installation in Maryland.  

Bullman said playing at the Center was something all the members of his team enjoyed, and, “the Weinberg Center is a beautiful hall, and it was a great venue for us to play in. The band and chorus enjoyed performing there, and we're hoping to establish a relationship with them that allows for more regular appearances.”  

Among the upcoming events at the Center, on May 9 former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. (Ret.) Colin Powell, will be speaking as part of the Frederick Speaker Series. To see what other events are scheduled for the Center, you can go to http://www.weinbergcenter.org/category/performances/.