Alumni Spotlight: ENS Rachel Seeberger, Class of 2019

Today we shine our spotlight on ENS Rachel Seeberger, USN, Class of 2019 Women’s Glee Club member, currently in Pensacola, FL starting Flight Training after spending 18 months earning a Graduate Degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Rachel shares what music meant to her at USNA and how her Glee Club experience has prepared her to serve our nation, and why it is important to give back to something that has been impactful in her life.

Auditioning for the Women’s Glee Club was by far the best decision I made while at the Naval Academy.  I have always had a passion for singing, but I never suspected that I would be able to continue that passion at a service academy.  I learned about USNA’s music programs during my Plebe Summer, and I was immediately determined to make singing a part of my academy experience.  I took a leap of faith and auditioned for the Women’s Glee Club during that summer, beginning a journey that inspired me, taught me, and shaped me into the woman I am today.

I was a member of the Women’s Glee Club for all four years at USNA.  Each year, I was presented with new opportunities to make beautiful music, meet new friends, and travel the country.  During my Plebe (freshman) year, I was able to travel to Detroit, MI and Los Angeles, CA for a Fall and Spring Break performing tour, respectively.  Youngster (sophomore) year brought travels and music-making opportunities in New York City and Phoenix, AZ.  I also began performing as a member of the contemporary A Capella group, “The Riveters.”

In my Second Class (junior) year, the Women’s Glee Club joined the Men’s Glee Club for two performances with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.  That same year, the USNA Glee Clubs were honored to have been invited to perform at a special event in Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center, honoring Senator John McCain, an event also featuring now-President Joe Biden.  All the while, I was forging a bond with the amazing, dedicated women around me.

First Class (senior) year introduced even more significant opportunities.  The Women’s Glee Club, along with the Men’s Glee Club was honored to perform at both the funeral service for Senator John McCain at Washington’s National Cathedral and the laying in state for President George H.W. Bush at the nation’s Capitol.  A Veteran’s Weekend November trip to Minneapolis with the combined Women’s and Men’s Glee Clubs included a performance as Guest Artists with the internationally-renowned Minnesota Orchestra was something I will remember for a long time.  A Spring Break concert tour in Hawaii was clearly a highlight of my Firstie year at USNA and these experiences easily became some of my favorite memories from not only the Women’s Glee Club-but the Academy as a whole.  Rehearsals and performances were a respite from the rigors of Academy life, and I am forever thankful for that.

I was privileged and honored to serve as the Women’s Glee Club President during my Firstie year.  Serving in this role was paramount in my development as a leader and naval officer, and it taught me the importance of compromise, enthusiasm and grace.  I learned that being there for our people, even in the smallest ways possible, goes a long way.  I was challenged and made mistakes, but came out as a better leader.

The Women’s Glee Club became my second family, and I know that through it, I made friends to last a lifetime. While all USNA sports and ECAs pride themselves on camaraderie, I truly think the Women’s Glee Club has something special.  After all, it is not every day you find a group of strong, incredible women, dedicated to serving their country, who can also sing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony --from memory with a Symphony Orchestra!  I cannot express the joy that these women brought me each day, and I will continue to be amazed by their accomplishments both at USNA and in the fleet.

The Women’s Glee Club gave me so much, and it is important for me to give back.  My experiences in the club would not have been possible without the help of FONAM and committing to a monthly donation was an easy decision.  I know that many others have been positively impacted by the USNA Music Department, and I ask you to consider committing to that same pledge.  It is my hope that for years to come, other Midshipmen are able to experience the same adventures and opportunities that I did.

Alumni Spotlight: ENS Jake Lindow, Class of 2020

This month we shine our Spotlight on some meaningful thoughts from ENS Jake Lindow, USN, Class of 2020 Men’s Glee Club member, currently in Corpus Christi, TX in Flight Training. He shared with us how meaningful his music experience at USNA was, how it helped his professional development, and why it is important to him to give back:

Music programs are especially important to the mission of the U.S. Naval Academy and could not exist without FONAM.  When I was at USNA, I was a member of the Men’s Glee Club for all four years and I appreciate this opportunity to reflect on the impact of my four years in this program.  While my experience was limited to that of the Men’s Glee Club, my friends from the Women’s Glee Club and every music program at USNA have all shared similar thoughts on how impactful their program was during their time at USNA.  For myself, virtually every experience I had happened because of the generosity of benefactors.  I did not realize this until the final stanza of Biebl’s AVE MARIA during Spring Tour in Tampa, FL in March 2020, which would be the last notes we would sing together after four years of amazing memories.  Now, as I reflect back on those memories, I am compelled to do my part in helping current and future midshipmen have the same amazing experience that my friends in the Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs and I did.

I knew I was in for something special after the first rehearsal as a Plebe in Fall of 2016.  The night before the first rehearsal 1/C Christian White (Class of 2017, MGC President) knocked on my door on 8-4 to welcome me to Glee Club, with the friendliness and demeanor as if I was joining a fraternity and not a choir.  Little did I know that the Glee Club was in fact much more than “just a choir.”

The next day at rehearsal I found myself standing in the rehearsal room in Alumni Hall looking around at the 50 strangers that would soon become life long friends.  Doc came in silently, simply took his place in the center of the room, and raised his hands ready to begin conducting.  Did I miss something? Was I supposed to pick up some music from somewhere?  Glancing around at the 15 other confused plebes in the room, I felt some consolation in that none of us had any idea what was going on.  A few minutes later, a wall of what I recall as the most glorious sound I’d ever heard resonated around the room.  “Though we roam the seas” bounced off the walls, leaving those previously confused plebes with their jaws on the floor.  I had absolutely no idea what I’d gotten myself into. 

Spring tour of my plebe year gave me my first glimpse at how important FONAM is to our mission, because that tour was almost cancelled due to a sudden decrease in funding.  The amazing work of FONAM and donors (themselves former Glee Club members) made it happen, and we got to travel to Los Angeles and perform at a variety of venues and make memories that I am certain will still be retold decades in the future.

The first year in Glee Club was only the tip of the iceberg, and was followed by tours all over the country, to include Hawaii and annual performances with some of the premier symphonic organizations in the nation.  For me, Glee Club was not about the destinations but rather the opportunity to make amazing music with people who are now my closest friends for life.

The Naval Academy is an experience that demands you find a break from the monotony of every day life as a Midshipman.  I truly believe that the music programs at the Naval Academy are the greatest way to achieve such a necessity, and enriched my experience at USNA more than I could have imagined.  The public outreach component of the Glee Clubs is an amazing tool to prepare midshipmen for life as an officer.  The opportunity to represent the Naval Academy and the U.S. Navy publicly around the country demands a level of professionalism that develops you in a way no other program can.  The perseverance and dedication required to learn music few other choirs do develops a skill set that I continue to use after graduation.  Whether it is performing the entirety of Durufle’s REQUIEM from memory (much to our chagrin) or simply showing up for a 2-hour rehearsal after a 6-N, I truly believe that four years in a music program at USNA prepares a midshipman for officership in an incredibly impactful way. 

None of these amazing experiences could happen without FONAM.  Turns out traveling around the nation gets expensive quickly, but if our mission is to reach as many people as possible, it is critically important that we continue to travel to as many parts of our nation as possible.  My decision to donate to FONAM was an easy one.  The Glee Club will always be a part of me, and FONAM provides an opportunity to continue to feel like I am part of the Club.  Glee Club is not just a choir; it really is a fraternity and lasting brotherhood, and one that could not exist without the work of FONAM and benefactors that believe in the importance of music at USNA.

No one came to USNA for music.  No one in a music program at USNA is a music major.  But every single one is there because of a passion they have for their program, a love for the people to their left and right, and a desire to spread joy to the rest of the country.  To me, that is something special, and funding those experiences through a donation to FONAM is the moist important charitable donation I think I could make. 

USNA Music Memories- Bill Dunkin, Class of 1978

I do not believe that my fond memories of the Glee Club (8 national tours) and the Protestant Chapel Choir (4 Messiah and Spring Oratorio performances plus weekend trips) are unique from any other Midshipman choir member.  But I really did enjoy all of the music we sang, places we visited (i.e. singing at the White House twice), and the activities in which we participated such as recordings with the Navy Band.  The choirs were my solace, my sanity, and my get-away.  You provided multiple get-togethers each week where we sang and laughed; we laughed a lot! You brought a very human element to the Naval Academy. I was proud to be nominated, attend and graduate from USNA.  However, the choral programs added all of the icing on my cake.  From newly formed friendships that remain today to the musical development of my personal skills.  I have more fond memories than I truly deserve.

This solid choral upbringing fostered my continued singing in the Naval Aviation Command Choir in Pensacola, numerous churches across the U.S. and of late, the Encore Choir (seniors 55 and older) of which I know you are aware…Many thanks to you for what you have done and continue to do.

Why I give - By Major Janelle Peske, USMC, Class of 2010

Giving back to the USNA Music Department was an easy decision: I’m paying it forward.

I only did one semester of high school show choir. I wasn’t skilled at reading music. I was not a very confident singer. But I was given a chance. The entry bar was low - a simple audition during plebe summer cracked open the door. I could hear notes and sing them back. That was it. From those first weeks at Annapolis, music became part of my development and eventually would be some of the highlights of my experience as a midshipman.

As a plebe (freshman year), I was involved in Women’s Glee Club, Chapel Choir, and a supporting ensemble member of the winter musical Oklahoma and the fall Halloween Concert.

As a youngster (sophomore year), Women’s Glee Club traveled to California for our spring break tour, where we got to perform at Disneyland, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, and other sites around Southern California.

As a second-class (junior year), I remember one morning waking up at “zero dark thirty,” rehearsing on the bus on the ride from Annapolis to DC in preparation for our performance as part of the televised Pentagon September 11th Memorial Dedication Ceremony.

In the spring semester of my junior year, I studied overseas in Amman, Jordan. By then, participation in choral music activities was so ingrained that I couldn’t imagine taking a full six months off. A couple of weeks after I arrived, I learned about a local community choir, “Dozan wa Awtar” auditioned, and joined. In addition to the fellowship of weekly choir rehearsals, we performed an Easter concert in Amman. I remember being amused that one of the pieces we learned and performed was a co-ed arrangement of Biebel’s Ave Maria, which was in the repertoire of the USNA Men’s Glee Club, but not a piece I had been able to sing with Women’s Glee Club.

Also during that semester abroad, I was able to gain the proper approvals and travel with the choir to perform a concert in the old city of Damascus, Syria. It was a brief trip, and we were there primarily for rehearsals and the concert. There wasn’t much time for sightseeing, but it was incredible and unforgettable to be a part of a tri-national musical event with choirs from Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It was an interesting experience to be in a rehearsal where the common language was Arabic and hearing the language spoken with vastly different accents.

Aside from the language barrier, and our different countries of origin, musicians and choir people have similar traits. We are quirky, enthusiastic, and prone to break out into song at any unexpected moment. The concert, held inside a historic church, opened my eyes to something I had never considered - the challenges and triumphs of Christians who kept their faith generation after generation even after their homelands became Muslim-majority.

As an Arabic major, studying abroad in Jordan was a chance to hone my language skills. Through choir, I gained a deeper cultural respect and understanding of my own faith.

The musical memories are some of the brightest highlights from my semester abroad.

When I returned to Annapolis for my first class (senior) year, I served as co-president of Women’s Glee Club. One of the highlights of that year included a Veterans Day tour to Chicago where we sang the National Anthem, complete with a flyover, at a Chicago Bears game. 

A few months later was our unforgettable spring break trip to Brazil. It was powerful to be given the opportunity to represent the Naval Academy on another continent and to be ambassadors and examples of women in uniform at the Brazilian Naval Academy, which at the time was still closed to female students.

I remember fondly other smaller musical moments throughout my time as a midshipman: singing the National Anthem with West Point cadets, combined as one choir, for the annual Army-Navy game, and singing the National Anthem to crowds of families and alumni during fall season home football games.

My time and involvement with the music department were not only highlights of my time at the Naval Academy but created memories and friends for life. Even after I graduated from the Naval Academy I continued to find ways to get involved with music. When an injury at The Basic School forced me to get rolled from training and extended my stay in Quantico, I joined a community choir in Stafford, Virginia.  

Having a chance to rehearse and see others in the community before a week of classes and military training helped me maintain a positive perspective. In choir, I didn’t have rank. I was just another voice and a member of the team. I had to listen to those around me and blend with the other voices. Each of us were unique and special, but we shined brightest as a synchronized group. 

The Naval Academy is not branded as a performing arts school, but I would venture to say that the Naval Academy Music Department’s top quality productions such as Spring Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah are on par with some of the best music schools in the country.

Nobody attends the Naval Academy for the music department but because midshipmen are given the chance to cultivate even the tiniest seed of interest, and provided skilled and patient instructors, the musical talents become part of who midshipmen are and the leaders we grow into.

Whether a midshipman is a gospel singer, a jazz instrumentalist, enjoys the drill of marching with drum and bugle, or the tempo and volume of bagpipes, the music department is an asset offering critical activities for hundreds of midshipmen every single year.

Most of us probably didn’t even realize the mental health benefits that we got from our music department involvement. We just know that we found joy in the camaraderie and respite from the demands of Bancroft Hall. But that time away from the yard, that time away from homework and studies, that time when we practice giving others the spotlight. That’s when we’re really developing servant leadership, listening to each other, and inwardly cheering each other on. 

The Music Department has impacted so many lives. If all of us commit to a monthly pledge, even a little bit, will make a lasting impact in the lives of midshipmen for generations to come. Music is a way that midshipmen can celebrate their heritage, learn about history, and grow as members of the team. Midshipmen in musical activities contribute to what makes the Naval Academy great and serve as an inspiring outreach for others through concerts and performances that resonate across communities and cultures.

I choose to pay it forward with FONAM because of the world-class musical experiences I had in the United States and overseas. I give to FONAM because I believe it is important to ensure that the Naval Academy Music Department has the financial support to continue to serve future classes of midshipmen, independent of federal funding or alumni association support.

I’m so grateful for the role that music played in my Naval Academy experience and leadership development from plebe summer, through graduation, and beyond.

Alumni Spotlight: ENS Ilenia Armstrong

USNA ‘20 (Political Science major, Russian minor)

Hometown: Tampa, FL.

Service Selection: Navy Pilot, reporting to Pensacola, FL in August.

Women’s Glee Club member all four years at the Academy and served as the President during first class (senior) year.

My brother attended the Academy before me, class of ’17 and was in the same company as Aly Hands, one of the former Women’s Glee Club presidents. I became friends with her, through him, and she told me all about the glee club. I never sang in high school, because my school did not have a choir, but I was an active member of the band and have always loved music. When it came time to audition, I was sure I wouldn’t make it because of my lack of singing experience and the talent it held with members such as Aly. It was my brother that ultimately convinced me to at least try and the rest is history.

The WGC was a huge part of my life at the Academy. It was not only an escape from Bancroft and a chance to do something that I loved, but it was a family. They became some of my greatest friends and I know I will have them for a lifetime. Though it was not always easy going to practice after a long day of school, it was something that brought me so much joy as I was able to do what I loved with people who loved it just as much as I did. We made beautiful music every day, and when we performed we could see the joy and hope in the tears that struck our audiences.

None of us could have expected the situation that has been COVID-19. Many of us, including myself, feel that we lost the chance to say goodbye to our friends and lives at the Academy. The Academy was four tough years we have spent together, in good times and bad, bonding and being there for each other when needed. If we couldn’t find what we needed in our companies, we knew that the “Ladies” were there, and would go to the end of the Earth for us. The last time we sang together, we didn’t know it would be the last time. I just wish that I had not taken for granted the time we did have. We sang our hearts out in Tampa, when we knew it was going to be the last concert of our tour, but we did not sing our souls out like we knew it was going to be the last time that we ever sang together. Those Girls are my sisters. We laughed and cried together, we lifted each other up and were each other’s greatest supporters. I cannot thank the music department enough for giving us a chance to find each other and make the music that truly touched people’s hearts.

To anyone that supports the music program, know that it is one of the most beautiful groups at the Academy. It has inspired, developed, and created a wonderful outlet and has taught me how to be the leader I am today getting ready to head out to the fleet. I miss it already, but I am so proud to say that I was a part of it.