Department of Music Professor Performs With U.S. Army Band 'Pershing's Own'

University of Arkansas

Benjamin J. Pierce, professor of tuba and euphonium for the University of Arkansas Department of Music, performed with the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" on Feb. 19.

Pierce was selected as a featured tuba performer at the annual U.S. Army Tuba and Euphonium Workshop. The event had been previously scheduled as an in-person workshop but was changed to a virtual event with a recording of the performances. The U.S. Army Band's performance included works from Saint-Saëns, Michael Daugherty, and Anthony DiLorenzo.

"It was a really humbling experience to perform as a soloist with the U.S. Army Band at Fort Myer. The premiere military bands comprise some of the nation's finest wind and percussion players, so I was in extraordinary company," said Pierce. "Colonel Andrew Esch was a pleasure to work with—a really fine musician. Daugherty's Reflections on the Mississippi is a special piece to me.  Not only is it a beautiful work, but it was written for and premiered by Carol Jantsch of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Carol was a friend and colleague of mine at the University of Michigan."

The recording of the streamed event can be located on the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" YouTube channel.

The United States Army Band, also known as "Pershing's Own," is the premier musical organization of the United States Army, founded in 1922.