Beat the Dark Ages!

Dear friends,

We hope that 2022 is off to a happy, productive, and hopeful start. As USNA weathers through the dark ages, there are brighter days (despite what the groundhog claimed) and exciting events ahead for musical activities.

Fans of classic Broadway movie musicals can warm up at the end of February to hot tunes like Greased Lightnin' in the 2022 USNA Winter Musical "Grease" which will showcase the vocal, acting, dancing, and instrumental talents of so many midshipmen across the Brigade.

Friday, February 25, 2022
     7:00 PM, USNA Mahan Hall

 Saturday, February 26, 2022
     7:00 PM, USNA Mahan Hall

 Sunday, February 27, 2022
     3:00 PM, USNA Mahan Hall

Purchase tickets here.

Further into Spring, the USNA Glee Club takes their world class show on the road….be sure to catch a performance if they are coming to a town near you! All events are open free to the public.

NASHVILLE, TN

Sunday 13 March 2022 at 4:00 pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church

3900 West End Avenue

Nashville, TN 37205

HILTON HEAD, SC

Wednesday 16 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church

540 William Hilton Parkway

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

CHARLOTTE, NC

Friday 18 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

First United Methodist Church

501 N Tryon Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

NORFOLK, VA

Saturday 19 March 2022 at 7:00 pm

Christ and St. Luke's Church

560 W Olney Road

Norfolk, VA 23501

If you haven’t already joined the many alumni who have set up their ~$20 recurring monthly “class year” support (i.e. class of 1997 set up a monthly donation of $19.97, class of 2009 gives $20.09), consider getting that going for 2022. Shout out to the Class of 2020 which has nearly 75% of their music alumni supporting FONAM this way - something for the rest of us to aspire to!!

Show some love to USNA music programs this Valentine's Day by donating to FONAM!

Thank you for helping to make 2022 FONAM and USNA Music's best year yet!

With Sincere Gratitude,

Your Friends at FONAM

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from FONAM

Dear friends, family, and supporters,

The holidays at the Naval Academy mark many special and memorable events.  From the Army-Navy game to the Holiday Orchestra Concert to the annual Messiah performance...even in the midst of exams and end of year requirements, music kept us in the holiday spirit and gave us memories to carry with us for years to come. 

Musical programs at the Naval Academy have thrived in 2021 despite significant challenges, due in no small part to support from Friends of Naval Academy Music, Inc; support made possible by friends and donors like you.  We are unbelievably close to achieving our goal of raising $150K by the end of the year...as you consider your end of year giving, will YOU help us to get there?

2022 will bring exciting new developments for FONAM and for Naval Academy music programs and we can't wait to share them with you in the coming months.

Don't hesitate to reply to this email if you'd like to have a personal conversation with one of us about how your support can and will have a lasting and sustainable impact on the future of Naval Academy music.

With gratitude and best wishes for the holidays,

The FONAM Board of Directors

Fall Fun and Spooky Times with USNA Music

Halloween Concert

It's hard to believe that 25 years ago, the Halloween concert began with just one incredibly talented organist and the chapel organ.  Now, each year, the Naval Academy Chapel is miraculously converted into a Broadway stage, showcasing not only the organ, but the unbelievable musical and technical talents of so many midshipmen. With FONAM's support, imagine what it could be in 25 more years.....  

Click below to share once more in the experience.

Later This Month

For those in the Dallas area, the USNA Glee Clubs and Pipes and Drums will be performing over Veterans Day with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for a three-day “Patriotic Pops” celebration.  The performances are Friday and Saturday evenings, November 12 and 13, and Sunday afternoon, November 14.  Learn more and buy tickets here.

Thank you for being a part of this community.  Please help spread the word about these events and the work of FONAM to friends and classmates and consider making FONAM a part of your end of year giving plans.

A Note from Doc Talley

As plebe summer draws to a close, the Brigade reforms, and Fall semester kicks off, I hope that you all had a safe, healthy, and terrific summer vacation.  The Class of 2025 has proven to be a talented bunch and we are all looking forward to seeing how they integrate and contribute to musical activities around the yard. Check out this video of the Catholic Choir performing the Navy Hymn…. were we ever that young?!

Talleybash is Back! 

Marcia and I are hosting yet another TalleyBash (don’t we ever give up?) on Friday, October 8 from 5-7 p.m...or whenever 😉.  There will be a Navy game on Saturday, October 9, and if you’re planning to come for the weekend, save some time for us.  Raise a glass, sing a song, remember the good times, catch up with old friends. 

What’s the occasion?  We’re celebrating two things: 50 years of supporting music at the Naval Academy, and Friends of Naval Academy Music.  We’ve accomplished much in the last three years; details at the party. 

Let me know if you can attend, and help me spread the word among your musical friends.  RSVP to j.barry.talley@gmail.com.

“Patriotic Pops” in Dallas

The USNA Glee Clubs and Pipes and Drums will be performing over Veterans Day with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for a three-day “Patriotic Pops” celebration.  The performances are Friday and Saturday evenings, November 12 and 13, and Sunday afternoon, November 14.  Learn more or buy tickets here.

Thank you for being a part of this community.  Please help spread the word about these events and the work of FONAM to friends and classmates and consider making FONAM a part of your end of year giving plans.

June 2021 FONAM Newsletter

Dear Friends of Naval Academy Music,

FONAM congratulates all those who were recently selected for promotions. We wish “Fair Winds and Following Seas” to the men and women in the Class of 2021!  During Commissioning Week, the Yard was once again filled with smiling faces, happy families and members of the Class of 2021 eager to celebrate with their families and loved ones.

We thought you might be interested in the Service Assignments for the Class of 2021:

Navy Pilot                                        239           Medical Corps                            13

Naval Flight Officer                        50             Supply Corps                                2

Surface Warfare Officer                266           Intelligence                                  11

Submarines                                     140           Cryptologic Warfare                   21

Naval Special Warfare (SEAL)      30             Information Professional          5

Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD)  17     Oceanography/METOC              2

U.S. Marine Corps (Ground)         171           Civil Engineering Corps              6

U.S. Marine Corps (Pilot)              101           Cyber Warfare Engineer             3

U.S. Marine Corps (Cyber)             4   

Commissioning Week also featured an “in person” USNA Glee Club and Gospel Choir Concert.   This was the first concert for either ensemble since March 2020, and possibly the only concert of its kind anywhere in the nation this graduation season.  And speaking of firsts, we send a FONAM shout-out to now-MIDN 3/C Michael Lancaster, member of the USNA Men’s Glee Club, for being the first Plebe to reach the top of Herndon this year!

Special Music from the Music Department:

 We hope you will enjoy the following three YouTube videos made possible by our generous FONAM donors (links in titles):

An especially poignant and meaningful selection by the Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs is:

Light of a Clear Blue Morning

In honor of Commissioning Week, and the Blue Angels demonstration please enjoy the USNA Pipes and Drums ensemble playing: Top Gun and Marine Corps Hymn

A salute to the men and women in the Class of 2021 by the Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs singing: Navy Blue and Gold

Please join some of your Glee Club classmates who are already doing so to establish a recurring donation to support and sustain a program at USNA that meant so much to you.  Please go to www.FONAM.org and set up a recurring donation of the amount of your choice.  Your support will provide the necessary resources to keep the music program at USNA alive.

The Road Ahead

As we look ahead to the remainder of 2021, and beyond, we are encouraged by the new donors who have made the decision to support the USNA music program.  But we need your help in reaching out to your classmates who were involved in any music ensemble and re-connect with them and encourage them to consider supporting FONAM. Please spread the word!  Ask a classmate to visit our website at www.FONAM.org and establish a recurring donation.  Thank you- your support is making a difference.

The USNA Glee Club performances in Dallas in November 2021

The USNA Glee Club will be heading to Dallas, TX in November to appear as Guest Artists for three performances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, one of the nation’s premier symphonic organizations.  The performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, November 12 and 13 at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoon, November 14 at 2:30 pm.  More information about tickets for these performances will be available on the Dallas Symphony’s website this summer.

Until our next update, please stay well, safe and take care of yourselves and each other.

April 2021 FONAM Newsletter

Dear Friends of Naval Academy Music,

As we write this message, Spring is blossoming on the Yard, the midshipmen are feeling the semester’s end draw near, and, for the Class of 2021, Graduation and Commissioning are within reach.  Plans are in place for Commissioning Week, with COVID protocols limiting, but not preventing, events and activities. 

Update from the Brigade of Midshipmen:

Plans for midshipmen Summer Training evolutions are being finalized and more details will be provided in a future Outreach message.

USNA Music Program News:

Dr. Aaron Smith, Chairman, USNA’s Department of Musical Activities has been keeping the midshipmen ensembles busy in April, rehearsing and recording some high-quality music. Here are some samples for you to enjoy:

This is a beautiful arrangement of “Simple Gifts” by USNA’s Women’s Glee Club. 

For all of the Rachmaninoff fans, here is Midshipman 2/C Sean Kee playing Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G-minor, Op.23 No. 5.

The USNA Gospel Choir singing “Ride On, King Jesus!”

A Dual-piano piece by Midshipman 1/C Ben Leaman and Midshipman 2/C Sean Kee playing “Valse” from the Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky.

The USNA Men’s Glee Club with a clever and unique rendition of a Sea Chanty, “Boston Harbor”

All of these excellent recordings would not have been possible without the generous gift from FONAM of the recording and editing equipment needed for these opportunities to keep music alive for the midshipmen.  Once again, we thank our donors for being so supportive of USNA music.  It means so much to these mids.

The Road Ahead

As we look ahead to the remainder of 2021 and beyond, we are encouraged by the new donors who have made the decision to support the USNA music program.  But we need your help in reaching out to your classmates, re-connect with them and encourage them to consider supporting FONAM.  Please help us pass the word -- ask them to visit our website at www.FONAM.org and establish a recurring donation of any amount.  Recurring donations are FONAM’s budgetary foundation – they allow us to make plans with confidence and keep the wheels of progress rolling.

The USNA Glee Club performances in Dallas in November 2021

The USNA Glee Club will be heading to Dallas, TX in November to appear as Guest Artists for three performances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, one of the nations premier symphonic organizations.  The performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, November 12 and 13, at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoon, November 14, at 2:30 pm.  More information about tickets for these performances will be available on the Dallas Symphony’s website this summer.

Until our next FONAM Outreach Message, please stay well, safe and take care of yourselves and each other.

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.

March 2021 FONAM Newsletter

Dear Friends of Naval Academy Music,

As we write this February/March greeting, we look forward to the coming Spring months and a light at the end of the tunnel as more Covid-19 vaccines become available nationwide.  We hope all is well with you and your families, and we continue in our gratitude for your steadfast support through the challenges of 2020/2021.  We look forward to the opportunity to serve, with your help, USNA Music and its midshipmen.  

Update from the Brigade of Midshipmen:

Ship Selection night for all Class of 2021 Surface Warfare selectees was held in early February with other warfare community events over the next several weeks, to include the annual Aviation dinner in early March with information on Flight School training dates at Pensacola.   

USNA Music Program News:

Rehearsals for all musical ensembles have started and are held daily during the week.  Dr. Aaron Smith plans to do several video recordings this semester, and these will be available for your enjoyment as they are produced.  Pending COVID protocols, and what may be permitted at the time, Commissioning Week concerts are hopefully going to occur. 

We hope you enjoyed the YouTube videos and recordings listed in previous Outreach messages.  Here is a very special one that was released a few weeks ago featuring the USNA Glee Club’s rendition of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”.

Here are two additional recordings made recently for your enjoyment:

Midshipman Second Class Andre Rascoe, USNA Gospel Choir, Political Science Major and President of the Class of 2022 singing “My Soul Has Been Anchored”

The Highland Dancers of the USNA Pipes and Drums ensemble present "Marie’s Wedding” and “Highland Choreography”

Once again, thanks to our donors whose contributions to FONAM have made these recordings possible.

In December 2020, Friends of Naval Academy Music, Inc. made gift-in-kind donation of a hand-made full steel drum set (worth $20,000) to be used by the Music Department.  These are being hand crafted, and we will keep you posted on their arrival.

To achieve a music bar of excellence, donations to purchase equipment such as this are why it is so important for private funds to be available for the music department.   

Updating your information for FONAM donations:

We have completed transition to the new donor management system to enhance our ability to support music at USNA by helping us keep in contact with donors, track donations, and organize our fundraising efforts.

If the opportunity arises where you need to make any changes to your established donations, including changing the dollar amount or adding/deleting a specific credit card, there is an easy way to make these changes.  Just follow these easy steps:

1. Go to this site.

2. If you are a current donor and have never logged in, select I forgot my login name or password. This will prompt you to enter your email address. Use the email address you used when you started your FONAM donation.

3. Follow the instructions in the email and login.

4. When you log in, you should see your name and a drop-down menu titled What do you want to do?

5. Select My Donation from the drop-down menu.

6. Near the middle of the page, you should see an option to edit your recurring donation information.

Our thanks to everyone for your continued support.  Please take the time to reach out to a classmate; specifically, a former music department participant and encourage them to consider supporting a program that meant so much to them while they were at USNA.  If you are not a monthly partner yet, please consider monthly recurring donations, which are so essential to our ability to make forward-looking commitments to USNA Music.  Visit us here to set up your support.

Until our next FONAM Outreach Message, please stay safe, make music, and take care of yourselves and each other.

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.