CONDUCTOR - UNITED STATES ARMY

Army Band Officers are Active Duty Soldiers that rotate through a variety of positions throughout their careers. They serve at the Army’s Special Bands and Large Army Bands.

Special Bands:

  • The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” (Ft. Myer, VA)
  • The U.S. Army Field Band (Ft. Meade, MD)
  • The United States Military Academy Band (West Point, NY).

Large Army Bands:

  • The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band (Ft. Monroe, VA)
  • The Army Ground Forces Command Band (Ft. McPherson, GA)
  • The United States Army Europe Band and Chorus (Heidelberg, Germany)

Band Officers also hold administrative positions related to the Army Bands program, which may include a position at the Army School of Music or a Staff Bands Office.

Helpful attributes include:

  • Bachelors degree in music (Masters preferred, but not required)
  • Superior skills as a conductor
  • Professional conducting or teaching experience
  • Strong musical and military leadership
  • Management skills

Army Band Officers are also known as Bandmasters, indicating their broad responsibilities as band “CEOs.” Beyond programming, preparing, and performing music, they fulfill many administrative and logistical functions. Whether marching in support of a military parade, providing chamber music for community events and educational institutions, or performing in concert halls, Army Bands offer an exciting and fulfilling opportunity to work with outstanding musicians in service to our country.

Officers in the Army exhibit self-discipline, initiative, confidence, and intelligence. They are physically fit and can perform under physical and mental pressure. Leaders make decisions quickly, always focus on successful mission accomplishment, and show respect for their subordinates and other military officers. They lead from the front and adjust to environments that are always changing. They are judged by their ability to make decisions on their own and bear ultimate moral and legal responsibility for those decisions.

Military benefits include free medical and dental care for you and your family; 30 days paid vacation each year, and the Federal Loan Repayment Program (up to $65,000).

Eligibility

All applicants must meet requirements to become a commissioned officer in the United States Army. Candidates without prior military service will attend Basic Training, Officer Candidate School (OCS), and the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC). Candidates with prior Army service will attend OCS and BOLC only. After completing OCS requirements, candidates are commissioned and earn the gold bars of a Second Lieutenant.

Requirements

To attend OCS, you must be:

  • At least 18 years old but not older than 40
  • A U.S. citizen
  • A college graduate
  • Physically fit

Acceptance of a position requires a minimum three-year service in the United States Army. Anyone offered a position will be expected to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test and meet other standards required to become a commissioned officer.

Auditions

Auditions will be by INVITATION ONLY at The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, 400 McNair Road, Fort Myer, Virginia 22211-1306. Send a résumé, a full-length photo, and a DVD of yourself conducting to:

The U.S. Army Band, Attn: Officer auditions
400 McNair Road
Fort Myer, VA 22211-1306
(703) 696-0509/3643

Your DVD should be the best representation of your conducting and rehearsal abilities. If your DVD is accepted you will be invited for a live audition at The United States Army Band sometime in April or May 2010, and asked to contact a local recruiter to begin the OCS application process.

For the live audition, candidates will conduct one piece each from Groups A and B and all three choral selections from Group C. Also required is a piece with soloist and band (we provide), a march of your choice, and the United States National Anthem, Department of Defense version. Applicants may conduct the same music on the live audition as on the DVD, but it is not required. Many applicants have sent videos of orchestral or other repertoire. During the two-day live audition process, applicants will also take a series of music theory tests, as well as an instrumental audition.

Group A

  • Sparke, Dance Movements (I or IV)
  • Copland/Hindsley, El Salon Mexico
  • Arnold/Paynter, Four Scottish Dances
  • Grainger/Fennell, Lincolnshire Posy
  • Ticheli, Postcard
  • Nelson, Rocky Point Holiday
  • Dello Joio, Scenes from the Louvre
  • Milhaud, Suite Francaise
  • Persichetti, Symphony for Band
  • Gould, Symphony for Band (West Point)
  • Giannini, Symphony No. 3
  • Ives/Schuman, Variations on America

Group B

  • Gershwin/Brubaker, An American in Paris
  • Williams/Curnow, The Cowboys
  • Gershwin/Rogers, Cuban Overture
  • Ellington/Kerchner, Ellington (A Tribute to the Duke)
  • Wilson/Reed, The Music Man
  • Sullivan/Mackerras, Pineapple Poll
  • Gershwin/Barnes, Porgy and Bess
  • Bennett/Rogers, South Pacific: A Symphonic Scenario
  • Williams/Lavender, Summon the Heroes
  • Ellington/Newsom, The Symphonic Duke
  • Gershwin/Barker, The Symphonic Gershwin
  • Bernstein/Duthoit, West Side Story

Group C (Men’s Chorus)

  • Holst, Dirge for Two Veterans
  • Schubert, La Pastorella
  • arr. Erb, Shenandoah
  • arr. Wilhousky, The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Updated Friday, June 4, 2010 9:45 AM | Conductor - Army Band Programs updated June 4, 2010