During Navy Week, Navy Band Great Lakes to appear for one night at The War Memorial
Coinciding with Navy Week Detroit, the Navy Band Great Lakes Wind Ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. from the lakefront back lawn at The War Memorial on July 13.
Navy Week is slated for July 11-17. During the week, over 50 Sailors from across the fleet take part in the service’s signature outreach program.
“How Navy Week is different than Fleet Week is, in Fleet Week a ship will arrive and Sailors will get off the ship and take over the town in a positive way, doing community outreach events,” Musician First Class Carl Schulte said. “A Navy Week does the same thing, but we try to bring the Navy where ships cannot go. Places where there’s not a lot of Navy exposure.”
Schulte has been in the Navy Band Great Lakes since September 2020 where he plays trumpet. He also is the band’s tour operations coordinator.
Grounds open at 6 p.m. The entrance onto the back lawn will be through the garden gate on the north end of the property. Seating will be provided by The War Memorial, however guests are invited to bring their own folding chairs and/or blanket for seating. This event will not feature food and beverage sales. Guests are welcome to bring their own picnic, however due to Michigan law, no outside alcoholic beverages may be brought onto the premises.
Pride in Service has been the theme for Navy Band Great Lakes for more than a century. From 1911, when the band first formed, to 1917, when Lieutenant Commander John Philip Sousa served as Bandmaster, its music represents the pride and professionalism that is synonymous with the United States Navy.
The band, based in Great Lakes, Illinois, consists of instruments like clarinets, trumpets, trombones, tuba, saxophone, flute, and a percussion section.
Speaking about what the public can expect from the performance, Schulte commented folks will see active-duty Sailors in uniform, displaying plenty of patriotism.
“In a lot of ways, we’re the keeper of tradition,” he said. “Music tends to be that and elevates tradition and elevates the ceremony. We’re trying to inspire patriotism in those who are there.”
Navy Band Great Lakes provides musical support for communities of all sizes as well as supporting Navy recruiting in an 11-state area of responsibility stretching from Michigan to North Dakota. The wind ensemble is comprised of 30 professional musicians under the direction of Lt. Christopher Cornette. The Wind Ensemble's repertoire consists of symphonic band works, patriotic music, Americana, and featured solo vocal and instrumental selections.
In addition to appearing at TWM, the band will appear at places like The Detroit Zoo, Eastern Market, Greenfield Village, River Raisin National Battlefield Park, and more during Navy Week.
The concert is free and all are welcome. Due to construction and parking limitations, advanced registration is requested for this performance. Folks can register at warmemorial.org/arts/navyband.
About The War Memorial
For more than 70 years, The War Memorial has been an arts, culture, patriotic, and community leader organization for Southeast Michigan. The War Memorial annually hosts more than 3,000 performances, classes, and family or community events drawing 250,000 visitors to its campus on the shores of Lake Saint Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. The War Memorial offers premier hospitality services for community and private gatherings as well as a diverse lineup of innovative programming for all ages. The War Memorial celebrates the ideals of American democracy through its programming while serving as place to honor and remember those who have defended those ideals. The War Memorial is a place for all people with no membership or residency requirements.
Media contact
Alex Szwarc
Manager of communications and advancement
313.881.7514
aszwarc@warmemorial.org