U.S. Army Field Band Performs In Collingswood March 14

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ - The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus will stop in Collingswood as part of its spring concert tour next month. The chorus will perform “This We’ll Defend” on March 14 at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free.

“This We’ll Defend,” is a powerful concert that puts audience members side-by-side with the soldiers defending our country. Experience the landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day and believe in the brotherhood and teamwork that sustained soldiers under siege in Sadr City, Iraq.

With "This We'll Defend," The U.S. Army Field Band honors heroes of yesterday, and ensures Americans remember the soldiers standing guard today in more than 140 countries around the world.

“The Army remains committed to our soldiers, our veterans and our country and it is the people of the United States who we all serve," Col. Jim Keene said. "It's a privilege to be in Collingwood connecting America to its Army. Using the power of music, our soldiers pay tribute to all service members who have liberated the world and who have preserved America’s freedoms and our Constitution."

The Concert Band and Soldiers' Chorus are the oldest and largest of The U.S. Army Field Band's performing components. These two ensembles combine to present joint concerts on national tours and have performed in all 50 states and 30 foreign countries for audiences totaling hundreds of millions. In 2017 the Army Field Band performed a free concert in Collingswood's Knight Park.

"It was an honor to host the Army Field Band in 2017 and we are honored again that they reached out to us to schedule a return performance," Collingswood Mayor James Maley said. "Their performances are moving. It's an incredible show and the March performance will be at one of our town gems, the Scottish Rite."

The 65-member Concert Band and 29-member Soldiers' Chorus perform regularly in some of the most famous concert halls in the world, and just as often in the humblest auditoriums in the smallest of communities.

The joining of these two ensembles allows them to offer unparalleled versatility of programming, ranging from orchestral masterworks and operatic arias to Sousa marches, jazz classics, and Broadway musicals.

The band and chorus also perform independently, and have recently shared the stage with such ensembles as the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

One member of the band will be coming home, as Staff Sgt. Michaela Shelton (formerly Michaela Anthony) grew up in Moorestown and taught at Moorestown High School.
Ticket are available through Ticketleap at https://armyfieldband.ticketleap.com/concert-band--soldiers-chorus---collingswood-nj/ and at the Scottish Rite box office. Guests that have handicapped seating needs should call the box office at 856-858-1000.

Collingswood's Scottish Rite Auditorium, one of the largest auditoriums in South Jersey, was named one of the "150 Best Buildings and Places" in the nation by the American Institute of Architects. Resting on eight acres of land, the Scottish Rite property is home to both the Collingswood Grand Ballroom and the breathtaking 1,050 seat Scottish Rite Auditorium.

The Auditorium hosts dozens of acts each year including comedians and performers such as Ben Folds, The Beach Boys, Kansas, Pat Benatar, Peter Frampton, Ani DiFranco, Sinbad and David Crosby who remarked that the venue was "the coolest place [he] ever played." This year, Collingswood is celebrating 20 years of managing and nurturing the arts at the Scottish Rite venue.