The United States Naval Academy Men’s Glee Club, under the direction of Dr. Aaron Smith, has achieved national prominence as one of America’s premier men’s choral ensembles. The 65 voices of the Men’s Glee Club, who have thrilled audiences throughout the world, will perform a wide variety of rousing and moving songs ranging from masterpieces of choral-symphonic literature to hit songs from Broadway and iconic military pieces.
“This concert is a perfect way to honor our active military and veterans on the eve of Veterans Day,” said Maestro Moody. “I have conducted three performances with the Glee Club in other locations and I can promise you that this concert will be truly memorable. In fact, most of their performances sell out. It is not only a pleasure to hear them sing, but it is also an honor to listen to the astonishing talent of these young midshipmen. It is easy to forget that they are not professional musicians but are instead members of our armed forces preparing for active duty.”
When the Glee Club takes the stage, one of its members will be more than familiar than the others with the performing arts venue on the campus of Winston-Salem’s Reynolds High School. Jude Ampolini, a first-year midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and a June 2012 graduate of Reynolds High School will be one of the Glee Club performers.
“I participated in musical programs all through high school. I was in the Reynolds a cappella group for four years and had the privilege of directing it my senior year. I have many fond memories of performing at Reynolds Auditorium including with the Winston-Salem Symphony in their 2011 concert We Will Rock You! The Music of Queen,” stated Ampolini. “I am looking forward to performing once again with the Symphony and even more importantly, I am excited to bring some of my new best friends at the Academy home to Winston-Salem and enjoy some true southern hospitality.”
Among the pieces to be performed by the Symphony and the Glee Club are the Star Spangled Banner; A Broadway Salute to the Navy featuring songs from On the Town, Pirates of Penzance and South Pacific; The Flying Dutchman: Norwegian Sailor’s Chorus, by Richard Wagner; “Soldier’s Chorus” from Faust; Victory at Sea: Symphonic Scenario for Orchestra, by Richard Rogers; “Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan, by John Williams; Ave Maria; Naval Hymn: Eternal Father, Strong to Save; Battle Hymn of the Republic and more.
The United States Naval Academy Men’s Glee Club has performed extensively throughout the United States in venues including San Diego’s Copley Symphony Hall, New York’s Avery Fisher Hall, and Washington’s Kennedy Center and abroad including performances at St. Peter’s in the Vatican, cathedrals in Brussels, Wells, Winchester, Salisbury, and St. Paul’s in London. Recent appearances on network television include The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS), The Today Show (NBC), The Early Show (CBS), Christmas in Washington (NBC and TNT), and Good Morning, America (ABC).
Performing masterpieces of choral-orchestral literature with many of the nation’s leading orchestras, the Men’s Glee Club’s most recent collaborations include the Boston Pops Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Nashville Symphony and the Portland Symphony. This marks their third series of performances with Maestro Robert Moody.
Recent notable appearances include the Inaugural Concert “We Are One” performed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a live audience of over half a million and an internationally televised audience, the dedication ceremony of the National Pentagon Memorial, the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, the Commissioning of the George H. W. Bush Aircraft Carrier (CVN-77), numerous concert tours, a joint performance with Chanticleer, and a newly released CD.
This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are sponsored by Season Presenting Sponsor Wells Fargo; Plugged-in Pops Co-Presenting Sponsors Novant Health and BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina, Concert Sponsor Convergent Technologies, as well as the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and the North Carolina Arts Council.
