188th Army Band to Perform 50th Anniversary Concert

The North Dakota Army National Guard 188th Army Band’s Concert Band performs with the University of North Dakota Wind Ensemble at the Chester Fritz Auditorium in Grand Forks on Dec. 6, 2009. The 188th Army Band will perform a special 50th anniversary concert, titled “A Tribute to Music of Early America,” at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at the Fargo Theatre.

FARGO, N.D. — The 188^th Army Band is pleased to announce a special performance by the Concert Band celebrating the unit’s 50th anniversary. The performance, titled “A Tribute to Music of Early America,” will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 11 at the Fargo Theatre. The free concert, which is open to all ages, will be presented to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 188^th Army Band and its move to Fargo.

The rich history of the 188^th Army Band dates back more than a century in North Dakota, beginning in Valley City in 1887 as the 1^st North Dakota Infantry Band. In 1891, the band was moved to Lisbon, N.D., where it remained for more than 65 years. During that time, the band was deployed to France during World War I. When they returned home, they were re-designated the 164^th Infantry Band. After World War II, they were re-designated once again as the 294^th Army Band. In 1959, the band moved to Fargo where it was re-designated the 188^th Army Band.

During the 122 years of the band’s existence, its Soldiers have trained across the nation and around the world. Stateside, the band has performed and trained in Washington, D.C., Mount Rushmore, S.D., Valley Forge, Pa., St. Louis, Mo., Nashville, Tenn., San Francisco, Calif., and Fort Monroe, Va. Training outside of the continental United States has included Montego Bay, Jamaica; Brisbane, Australia; and Heidelberg, Germany.

The 188^th Army Band of modern day is a busy organization performing for state, military and civic events across North Dakota. The unit is made up several performing ensembles to include the Concert/Marching Band, Dixieland Band, Brass Quintet, Jazz/Stage Bands and Jazz Combos, Dance/Show Bands and various other small chamber ensembles. The official mission of the band is to provide music throughout the full spectrum of military operations and instill in our Soldiers the will to fight and win, to foster the support of our citizens, and to promote our national interests at home and abroad.

The 188^th Army Band is under the senior leadership of 1^st Sgt. Michael Koshney, of Fargo, N.D. The enlisted conductor of the 188^th Army Band is Sgt. 1^st Class Donald Nagle, of Grand Forks, N.D.

WHAT: 188^th Army Band 50^th Anniversary Concert performance, “A Tribute to Music of Early America”

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 11

WHERE: Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway, Fargo, N.D.

MEDIA COORDINATION: Representatives of the 188^th Army Band will be available for media coverage and interviews from the date of this release through April 3. High-resolution photos of the band are available at www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard. Leadership biographies are available upon request; call 701-451-6062.

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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,500 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, about 800 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas. With a total force of about 4,400 Soldiers and Airmen, sufficient forces remain in the state for emergency response and homeland defense.

Video

Video of previous Concert Band performances by the 188^th Army Band can be viewed on YouTube:

· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysYTF0-F87E

· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Iovy2dfAMQ

· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbDgeZn2leo