33-679: The United States Coast Guard Band is the premier band representing the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. Established in 1925, the Coast Guard Band is stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London , Connecticut. The Band frequently appears in Washington, D.C., at presidential and cabinet-level functions on formal and informal occasions. Once
66-621: A brass quintet , a Dixieland jazz band, a saxophone quartet , a woodwind trio, and a flute and harp duo. According to the Coast Guard, competition for its limited vacancies is fierce, and many new Coast Guardsmen enlisting as musicians are conservatory-trained with degrees from elite institutions including the Juilliard School , Eastman School of Music , and the New England Conservatory . A number of its members also perform with
99-570: A trombonist and staff arranger with the United States Coast Guard Band . Nelson completed the song with harmonies and orchestration , adding more than 30 instrumental parts. "I became familiar with the other branches' songs, but I wanted this one to have its own modern spin to reflect what the Space Force is – modern, new, and very advanced," Nelson said. The U.S. Coast Guard Band recorded Nelson's arrangement of
132-401: A trombonist and staff arranger with the Coast Guard Band. Nelson completed the song with harmonies and orchestration , adding more than 30 instrumental parts. "I became familiar with the other branches' songs, but I wanted this one to have its own modern spin to reflect what the Space Force is — modern, new and very advanced," Nelson said. The Coast Guard Band recorded Nelson's arrangement of
165-630: A Space Force song that will be part of our culture and heritage for years to come. Our traditions are part of the fabric that weave us all together as we execute our missions side-by-side; I will be proud to sing 'Semper Supra' alongside my fellow guardians." In announcing the selection of the song, the United States Department of the Air Force stated, "It was created to capture the esprit de corps of both current and future Guardians, and intends to bring together service members by giving them
198-496: A multi-colored aiguillette . A second distinctive uniform, the "concert ceremonial dress uniform," is patterned in white with blue highlights such as shoulder boards and cuffs. List of United States military premier ensembles A premier ensemble is a certain class of military band in the United States armed forces that exist to promote the U.S. military to the public at large, to support state ceremonies, and to preserve
231-632: A multi-service institute responsible for Navy, Marine Corps, and Army premier musicians in 1951. With the exception of the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps , new enlistees in premier ensembles automatically enter at the pay grade of E6 (staff sergeant in the Army and Marine Corps, Technical Sergeant in the Air Force, and Petty Officer First Class in the Navy and Coast Guard) and enjoy enlistment contracts that guarantee they are not deployable outside
264-422: A musical representation of America’s Space Professionals [was] needed." We’re the mighty watchful eye, Guardians beyond the blue, The invisible front line, Warfighters brave and true. Boldly reaching into space, There's no limit to our sky. Standing guard both night and day, We’re the Space Force from on high. Teachenor and Nelson gifted "Semper Supra" and the copyright to its music and lyrics to
297-509: A sense of pride." Before adopting “Semper Supra” as its official service song in September 2022, the Space Force used an excerpt of “ The Invincible Eagle ,” composed by John Philip Sousa in 1901, as its official interim march. It was adopted in 2020. The portion of the march used was named " The U.S. Space Force March " and was to be played for "ceremonies and gatherings of the USSF and anywhere
330-437: A year, it undertakes national and international tours to promote the Coast Guard. As of 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard Band is the Coast Guard's only professional musical ensemble (a second branch band, the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band , is an auxiliary-staffed organization). In March 1925, the Coast Guard Band was organized with the assistance of Lt. Charles Benter, leader of the U.S. Navy Band , Dr. Walter Damrosch , conductor of
363-500: Is named after the U.S. Space Force's official motto , Semper Supra . After the creation of the U.S. Space Force on December 20, 2019, United States Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Sanchez – who researched the mottos of other military branches and chose " Semper Supra " because of both its ease of pronunciation and the alliteration of both the Latin phrase and its English translation "Always Above" – proposed
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#1732844032053396-476: The British surrender at Yorktown : 17 October, thematically designated "Revolution Day", and 18 October, designated "Religion Day". An influx of new personnel into the Coast Guard during World War II stretched the band's capabilities and, for the first time, additional bands were raised by the Coast Guard to support stateside ceremonial and training requirements of the expanding force. In May 1943 an all-women's band,
429-471: The New York Philharmonic , and John Philip Sousa , former director of the U.S. Marine Band . At the time of its establishment, it was primarily as a ceremonial unit responsible for supporting cadet activities at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where it was stationed. In 1931 the Coast Guard Band was the principal military band for two of the days of the week-long observances of the sesquicentennial of
462-410: The copyright to its music and lyrics to the United States Department of the Air Force . Almost all personnel of the Coast Guard Band are assigned to the ceremonial and concert bands, the group's primary performance units. The band, however, maintains several chamber music groups to provide specialized performance capabilities to which some personnel are co-assigned. This includes a woodwind quintet ,
495-640: The Coast Guard SPAR Band, was activated at the Palm Beach SPAR Training Station. The Palm Beach SPAR Band, which had a strength of 35 personnel, was transferred to Washington, DC in 1945. While there it performed in the triumphal parade held for Admiral Chester Nimitz and participated in the mourning ceremonies for President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt , assigned to perform dirges at Union Station for
528-707: The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, the Hartford Symphony, and the New Haven Symphony . Operationally located at Leamy Hall at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the band has billets for 54 instrumentalists and command staff, and one vocalist. Its vocalist billet has traditionally been filled by a female singer. In addition to regular Coast Guard uniforms, the Coast Guard Band is authorized wear of special ceremonial dress consisting of navy blouses with banded collars and shoulder boards, and
561-589: The Soviet Union and, in 2016 the Coast Guard Band performed at the debut of " The Finest Hours " at Mann's Chinese Theater , the first time the band had performed at the debut of major motion picture. In late 2015 the Coast Guard began another study about the feasibility of relocating the band from its traditional station in New London, Connecticut to Washington, DC. The proposal to relocate the band has been opposed by United States Senator Richard Blumenthal . After
594-402: The Space Force's adoption of the song as its service anthem, Raymond explained, "We wanted a song that spoke to our guardians [the Space Force's term for its personnel], that brought to life our motto, ' Semper Supra . ' And it all comes together into something that I hope guardians around the world will be proud of." Raymond added, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish
627-446: The U.S. Department of the Air Force, which is the exclusive owner of the copyright. Immediate media reaction to the song was mixed. On September 22, 2022, Stephen Thompson on All Things Considered on NPR commented, "My immediate thought went to Team America: World Police . (...) Or like something out of, like, a G.I. Joe cartoon." A New York Times article on September 21, 2022, commented that while trying to "shoot for
660-478: The U.S. Marine Band and U.S. Coast Guard Band forgo recruit training altogether; instead, after enlistment, they receive instruction and classes to educate them on military tradition and etiquette in order to fulfil their role. Premier ensembles are tasked with promoting the image of the U.S. armed forces through public performances, concerts, and parades. They also support official government ceremonies such as state visits , are used as recording groups to produce
693-659: The United States, meaning competition for billets is fierce. These organizations have typically attracted the highest-caliber musicians available, selected through a competitive audition process. In the past, some premier ensembles have been administered separately from the rest of their branch's bands; they generally do not have any duties other than musical performance. During wartime, by contrast, non-premier U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army bands reconfigure into light infantry units responsible for rear-area defense and EPW (enemy prisoner-of-war) security. Personnel of
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#1732844032053726-415: The arrival of the funeral train carrying the president's body. The SPAR Band was deactivated in 1946. In addition to the Coast Guard SPAR Band, bands were activated in many Coast Guard districts for the duration of hostilities. The 11th District Band enlisted Rudy Vallée as its bandmaster (during World War I Vallee had served in the U.S. Navy for three months before being expelled after it was discovered he
759-468: The band to Washington, D.C. Petition drives by citizens of Connecticut prevented the moves. Lewis J. Buckley assumed command of the Coast Guard Band in 1975 as the group's fifth director. Leading the band for 29 years, until 2004, Buckley retired as the longest-serving conductor of a major military service band in American history. In 1989 the Coast Guard Band became the first U.S. military band to perform in
792-775: The creation of the United States Space Force in December 2019, the Coast Guard Band played a central role in developing the Space Force's official song, " Semper Supra ." After singer-songwriter James Teachenor, a former member of the United States Air Force Band at the United States Air Force Academy , wrote the lyrics and composed the melody for "Semper Supra" and received suggested arrangements and finishing touches for it from 12 military bands , he collaborated with Chief Musician Sean Nelson,
825-449: The eleven premier ensembles, the U.S. Marine Band is the oldest, having been activated in 1798. U.S. Army U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Navy U.S. Air Force U.S. Coast Guard Semper Supra (march) " Semper Supra " ( Latin for ' always above ' ) is the official march of the United States Space Force , composed in 2022 by James Teachenor and Sean Nelson. "Semper Supra"
858-437: The heritage of American martial music . They are configured and commanded so as to attract the highest-quality musicians available, and competition for enlistment is typically fierce. As of 2020 there are eleven such units. Five of the six branches of the U.S. armed forces designates one or more of its military bands as premier ensembles, although the exact terminology used to describe such units varies (the U.S. Army uses
891-474: The motto, and the U.S. Space Force officially adopted it on July 22, 2020. Singer-songwriter James Teachenor, a former member of the United States Air Force Band at the United States Air Force Academy , wrote the lyrics and composed the melody for Semper Supra . Upon the creation of the Space Force in December 2019, he began working with the Chief of Space Operations , General John W. "Jay" Raymond , to start
924-537: The music used in recruiting advertisements and other productions of the armed forces, and provide ceremonial support to the corps of cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis), U.S. Air Force Academy , and U.S. Coast Guard Academy . Of the military's 137 regular and reserve bands, 11 are currently designated premier ensembles, including four U.S. Army bands, two U.S. Marine Corps bands. two U.S. Navy bands, two U.S. Air Force bands, and one U.S. Coast Guard band. Of
957-451: The process of writing the song. He explained, "The song was a long work in progress because I wanted it to encompass all the capabilities that the Space Force offers and its vision." Teachenor sent the melody and lyrics to various U.S. military bands for them to suggest arrangements and finishing touches, and the bands submitted 12 different arrangements for consideration. Teachenor then collaborated with Chief Musician Sean Nelson,
990-522: The song for review by the Space Force. After months of coordination between the Space Force and Coast Guard Band to further develop and revise the song and variations of it, the Space Force chose the final version of "Semper Supra." The song was unveiled in a public performance by members of the U.S. Air Force Band and a guest singer on September 20, 2022, during a speech Raymond gave at the 2022 Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor , Maryland . In announcing
1023-499: The song for review by the Space Force. After months of coordination between the Space Force and Coast Guard Band to further develop and revise the song and variations of it, the Space Force chose the final version of "Semper Supra." The song was unveiled in a public performance by members of the U.S. Air Force Band on 20 September 2022, at the 2022 Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor , Maryland. Teachenor and Nelson gifted "Semper Supra" and
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1056-407: The term "Special Bands"). While branch-wide, as opposed to unit-specific, bands have existed since the formation of the U.S. Marine Band in the 1790s, the idea of forming superior music ensembles posted in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. , originated with John Pershing in the early 1920s and formalized with the transition of the U.S. Navy School of Music from a training program for naval bandsmen to
1089-459: Was 15 years old). Like the SPAR Band, the district bands were phased out after the end of the war, the Coast Guard Band returning to its status as the service's sole musical unit. In 1965 the Coast Guard Band was chartered by Congress as the official band of the entire service and was given parity with other U.S. military "premier ensembles". In 1976, and again in 1981, the Coast Guard proposed moving
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