R-MA Hosts 45th Annual Military School Band & Choir Festival, showcasing talented cadets from across the country

From February 24-26, 2023, Randolph Macon Academy hosted the 45th Annual Military School Band & Choir Festival, featuring performances by a concert band and a festival choir made up of military high school and college cadets, as well as a drum major clinic for cadets from these schools.

Colonel John A. Brodie, the Director of Music at Virginia Military Institute, led the Festival Concert Band. Stephen Cramer, a retired member of the US Army Chorus, a former Broadway star, and a current professor at the University of Wyoming conducted the Festival Choir. MUC James Anderson, the new primary drum major of the US Navy Band, instructed the drum major clinic.

The drum major competition was held on February 25th at the R-MA Melton Memorial Gymnasium, with ten cadets vying for the top spot. The competitors were:

• John Classen, Cadet Sergeant First Class, Hargrave Military Academy
• John Carlos Ahuja, Cadet Staff Sergeant, Missouri Military Academy
• Charles Leventhal, Cadet Third Class, Coast Guard Academy
• Alexandra Kammerer, Cadet First Lieutenant, New Mexico Military Institute
• Trae Stencel, Cadet Private First Class, Army and Navy Academy
• Joseph Church, Cadet Third Class, United States Coast Guard Academy
• Kruze Hagan, Cadet Sergeant, Missouri Military Academy
• Matthew Moore, Cadet Second Lieutenant, Fork Union Military Academy
• Noah McMan, Cadet Second Class, United States Coast Guard Academy
• Sarina Winters, Cadet 2nd Lieutenant, Randolph Macon Academy

At the festival band and choir concert held on February 26th, 2023, the winner of the drum major competition was announced. The top spot went to Kruze Hagan, a Cadet Sergeant from Missouri Military Academy.

The top spot of the drum major competition went to Kruze Hagan, a Cadet Sergeant from Missouri Military Academy.

The concert showcased high school and college cadets across various states, including California, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Missouri, Connecticut, and Virginia. The schools represented were:

Army & Navy Academy, Carlsbad, CA
Hargrave Military Academy, Chatham, VA
Fork Union Military Academy, Fork Union, VA
Missouri Military Academy, Mexico, MO
New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM
Randolph-Macon Academy, Front Royal, VA
Saint John’s Northwestern Academies, Delafield, WI
U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT
Valley Forge Military Academy and College, Wayne, PA
Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA

Please enjoy these Royal Examiner exclusive videos of the drum major competition and festival concert.