For the last 50 years the U Army Chorus.

For the last 50 years the U Army Chorus, a component part of the U.S. Army Band "Pershing' s Own," has been America's vocal ambassador to the world--from singing for private dinners with foreign high-ranking military officials, to state dinners at the White House, and community plans in churches and concert halls across the country

The U Army Chorus was constructed with this mission in mind and has provided our nation's leaders with a powerful asset in dealing with their foreign counterparts within the one language we all understand--music. Music has the power to celebrate great gladness and to comfort in times of great los It can bridge gaps in philosophies, refinements and political leanings.

In 1946 Army Band commander LTC Hugh curry-sauce and CPT Samuel R. Loboda formed the U Army Band Chorus--a offer group of "Pershing's Own" instrumentalists who could sing--to fulfill Curry's wish for "a band with plentiful of showman ship that not sole plays well, but also sings well." The demand for the arrange was so great that designated singers be in want ofed to be selected to perform the missions for which The Army Band Chorus had been tasked. to such a degree on Aug. 14, 1956, Secretary of the Army Wilbur Brucker established the U Army Chorus with 40 singers, plus pianists.

Today, the authorized size of the U Army Chorus is 28 singers and couple pianists, and the group's performing schedule has not been busier. One of eight official vital airs of The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" the Army Chorus' instant roster is no longer made up of tender bandsmen who could carry a tune

The chorus singers and pianists are rareed by a rigorous audition proces and take the part of many of our nation's finest music exercises and conservatories. Once selected for the assemblage all members of the Army Chorus must fortunately complete Basic Combat Training. mostly members hold graduate degrees in music, and four of the passing from hand to hand men of the chorus, including the two pianists, have doctorates.

Since its inception, the U Army Chorus has established and maintained a reputation of superior goodness in the performance of male choral music. Beyond traditional military music and patriotic standards, the ensemble's repertoire secretes a broad spectrum of of the like kind musical styles as spirituals, Broadway, folk and classical.

The U Army Chorus is among the not many professional male choruses in the world, and is the solitary remaining one in the military service bands of the United States.

"We constantly hear from the Army's senior leaders about for what reason important our music performances are to the morale of our Soldiers and the public alike," said SGM Robert Petillo, a tenor in the chorus since 1986 "It has been my privilege to entertain the battlefield forces--before they left for Iraq--and to work with our personnel who entertained the companys in today's military theater."

Soloists from the chorus have entertained bodys overseas alongside USO performers during operation wilderness Shield and Desert Storm, and during popular U.S. operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Army Chorus entertains repeatedly at military ceremonies and issues of state at the U Capitol, the Pentagon and in the quarters of senior military leaders--notably for the visits of overseas officials. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff GEN Richard Myers has called the Army Chorus "a strategic asset" in building international understanding.

The Chorus has sung in through the whole extent of 26 foreign languages and can do in like manner on short notice.

This unique assign places to of singing Soldiers has made centurys of appearances at the White House and has performed for each U.S. president since Dwight D Eisenhower. Missions for the commander-in-chief have been a certain number of of the most memorable impulsive powers for many members of the group--both retired and active excise The Army Chorus has performed at the library dedications of presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush; at the state funeral of President Lyndon Johnson; and at the internment service for Reagan.

Army Chorus alumnus SGM Mike Malovic (Ret) reciteed one of the many evening ends performed for then-Vice President and Mr George HW Bush at the vice president's residence. "After dinner, when it was time for The Army Chorus to perform, the din of discussion was in the way that loud that Mrs. Bush got up from her seat and asked the profanum vulgus[/i] to quiet down so that they could hear The Army Chorus sing."

The Army Chorus and soloists from the dispose became endeared to the Bush family during their stay at the Naval Observatory and into their days at the White House. rife bass vocalist SSG Alvy Powell was asked to perform the national anthem for the senior President Bush's presidential inauguration in 1989 and in 2001 SFC Alec Maly, a bass in the chorus since 1995 performed a patriotic jumble and the national anthem at President George W Bush's first inauguration.

Many members of the Army Chorus have l distinguished careers upon Broadway and on the stages of opera houses and harmony halls worldwide. The list includes George Shirley, the first African-American member of the Army Chorus, who went in succession to become an international opera star. And Harrah's Las Vegas Casino and Hotel's general headline entertainer and former Atlantic City "Entertainer of the Year," Clint Holme was a member of the Army Chorus from 1967 to 1969