THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502250090
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Most entertainers affiliated with the military are versatile enough to perform music in almost any category.
The Sea Chanters, the 17-voice chorus of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, is no exception.
As the name implies, they perform traditional chanties. And more - music from Broadway, jazz, contemporary hits.
The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star and The Sun will present the Sea Chanters on March 14 and 15 at Nansemond River High School.
Some of the most recent appearances of the Sea Chanters shows that the group is in demand.
The singers appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra for the nationally telecast 1992 and 1994 ``National Memorial Day Concerts'' at the U.S. Capitol.
Also in 1994, they sang at the funerals of former President Richard Nixon at Yorba Linda, Calif., and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at Arlington National Cemetery.
They performed aboard the USS Constitution in Boston for the Constitution Bicentennial Celebration.
The Sea Chanters have appeared on the nationally televised NBC special ``From the Heart'' and at the Kennedy Center ``Honors for Bob Hope.'' They have also performed with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
Organized in 1956 as an all-male chorus specializing in songs of the sea, the group was named by Adm. Arleigh Burke, former Chief of Naval Operations. Later, female voices were added.
Master Chief Musician Ronald M. Chiles of Osceola, Ark., who directs the Sea Chanters, once served as piano instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk.
In 1975 he was appointed head of the school's rhythm/vocal depart-ment.
Chiles, who was a guest soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1978, 1979 and 1988, has performed with such artists as Sammy Davis Jr., Urbie Green and Grover Washington Jr.
He hold a master's degree from the Catholic University of America.
Chief Musician Stephen W. Wellman conducts the group and provides the baritone vocals.
A Morganton, N.C. native he received his bachelor's degree in 1974 from the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem.
Wellman has performed with the Washington Civic and National Lyric Opera companies and the Alexandria, Prince William, Georgetown and Winston-Salem symphonies and has appeared on the Perry Como Easter Special. ILLUSTRATION: The U.S. Navy Band's Sea Chanters chorus will preform in March
at Nansemond River High School.
AT A GLANCE
What: U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters
When: 7:30 p.m. March 14 and 15
Where: Nansemond River High School, 3301 Nansemond Pkwy.
Tickets: Free. Requests by mail to: U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters,
c/o VPLS, P.O. Box 2494, Norfolk, VA 23501. Four tickets per family.
Designate date requested. Orders due by March 1. Include
self-addressed, stamped envelope.
by CNB