Navy group to perform in concert

The U.S. Navy Band's "Sea Chanters" has its periscope set on Columbia County for an upcoming concert.

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The Navy's official chorus will make a stop in March at the Columbia County Amphitheater during its 2010 Spring Tour.

"They're very excited to be there," said Senior Chief Musician Aaron Porter, the Navy Band's public affairs director. "They're very much looking forward to this tour."

This year, the Navy chorus will perform in the Southeastern region. The touring groups of each military branch rotate among five sections of the nation each year, Porter said.

"We rotate that around so that each area of the country gets a different group from a different service every year," he said.

The "Sea Chanters" often perform at the White House, the vice president's home and for other military and civilian dignitaries in Washington, D.C.

The 22-member chorus started in 1956 to continue the tradition of singing sea chanteys. In 1980, women started entering the group.

The term chantey comes from the French term chantez , which means to sing.

"They're essentially folk songs that are related to the sea and nautical service," Porter said. "Sailors in those days would use music to sort of lighten the load of their duties in a normal day."

The chorus will perform a variety of songs, including traditional chorus music, modern pop and rock tunes, Broadway melodies and, of course, sea chanteys.

"There's something there that everyone can appreciate," he said.

Before coming to Evans, the chorus also will perform in Savannah, Richmond, Va., and Gainesville, Fla.

"This should be a great performance," Columbia County Community Events Manager Stacie Adkins wrote in an e-mail. "This is the first time for the group to perform in our area, and with our military community, we should expect great support."

The 90-minute concert will start at 5:30 p.m. with gates opening at 5 p.m. The performance is free, but tickets will be distributed beforehand through the Community Events Department, located in Building B of the county's government complex.

In the event of poor weather, the concert will take place inside the library's Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center, Adkins said. Admittance will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis for patrons with a ticket.

For information, visit The Navy band's Web site at www.navyband.navy.mil.

If you go

What: The U.S. Navy Band "Sea Chanters" chorus concert

When: 5:30 p.m. on March 4

Where: Columbia County Amphitheater

Cost: Free tickets will be distributed through the Community Events Department, located in Building B of the county's government complex

More: Go to www.navyband.navy.mil, or call (706) 312-7191