Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – The U.S. 8th Army Band’s ensemble group, Alliance Brass arrived in Ulaanbaatar on June 29, 2015 for the band’s first-ever visit to Mongolia. To mark the occasion, the band performed with the Mongolian Military Band in a joint concert at the Mongolian National Federation for the Blind (MNFB) and also at an outdoor concert at Chinggis Khaan Square.
More than 80 visually impaired individuals and their family members came out to listen to the music of the bands at the MNFB. Ambassador Campbell told the audience that the joint concert was a tangible reminder of the continuing collaboration between the U.S. Embassy and the MNFB. The audience enthusiastically clapped along to the music of the two bands. During a Question/Answer session with the band, audience members praised them for their talent and congratulated them on how they were able to bring peace through music, since music is a global language that transcends culture and nationality.
There was something for everyone at the Chinggis Khaan Square as the band serenaded the crowd with a mix of classical music, jazz, rock and of course, marches. Some audience members spontaneously danced along, and then the band invited everyone to join in as they played “The Chicken Dance.” The band’s last number, “When the Saints Come Marching In” made for a rousing finale.
The U.S. 8th Army Band began its proud history of service to the United States on 1 July, 1916. Based in the Republic of Korea, the band is capable of performing everything from traditional military marches, to chamber music, as well as the latest country, pop, rock, and jazz tunes.
