9th SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL
BAND FESTIVAL 2024
Be inspired at #SIBF2022GALA with the
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THE UNITED STATES
NAVY BAND
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CAPT Kenneth Collins, conductor
The United States Navy Band is the premier musical organization of the U.S. Navy. Comprised of six primary performing groups as well as a host of smaller ensembles, “The World’s Finest” is capable of playing any style of music in any setting.
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Since its inception in 1925, the Navy Band has been entertaining audiences and supporting the Navy with some of America’s finest musicians performing more than 270 public concerts and 1,300 ceremonies each year. From national concert tours and historic public events to presidential inaugurations and memorial services at Arlington National Cemetery, the Navy Band proudly represents the men and women of the largest, most versatile, most capable naval force on the planet today: America’s Navy.
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The Navy Band is dedicated to the education of younger musicians. The Music in the Schools program features band members presenting clinics, master classes and recitals at local schools. Every spring, the Concert Band hosts its annual Young Artist Solo Competition.
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The United States Navy Band, nationally and internationally, stands for musical and military excellence. Whether performing at Carnegie Hall, the White House or a rural civic auditorium, the United States Navy Band is constantly reaffirming why they are “The World’s Finest.”
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U.S. Navy Concert Band
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The United States Navy Concert Band, the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy, presents a wide array of marches, patriotic selections, orchestral transcriptions and modern wind ensemble repertoire. Collaboration with celebrities has become a hallmark for the Concert Band. The band was featured with Arthur Godfrey of NBC radio fame in 1927. Gene Kelly was guest star for the first episode of "The Navy Hour" radio program in 1945, which the band produced for an astounding 23 years. In 2002, the band was filmed performing "America the Beautiful;" the performance was broadcast by the NFL prior to each game during opening week.
The Concert Band has been featured internationally at military tattoos and festivals in Oslo, Stockholm and Quebec City. In 1996, the band was honored to participate in the 300th Anniversary of the Russian Fleet in St. Petersburg and in The Baltic International Festival of the Fleets in Kaliningrad, Russia.
Recognized as one of the finest wind ensembles in the world, the Concert Band is in constant demand by organizations such as the American Bandmasters Association and The Midwest Clinic.
CAPT Kenneth Collins
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Capt. Kenneth C. Collins, a native of Reno, Nevada, entered the Navy in 1989 and attended recruit training in San Diego, California. Upon completion of Musician “A” school, he served as a percussionist in fleet bands in Guam and Newport, Rhode Island.
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His first assignment upon receiving a commission as a limited duty officer bandmaster in 1998 was as the ceremonial band leader and associate conductor of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C., and shortly thereafter an assignment as the assistant director of the U.S. Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, Maryland.
Collins served as the director of Navy Band Northwest from 2001-2004, director for U.S. Pacific Fleet Band from 2004-2007, director of Navy Band Southeast from 2007-2008, and director of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band from 2009-2012. Most recently, he completed a tour as director of Fleet Band Activities from 2012-2015. He reported to his current assignment as commanding officer of the U.S. Navy Band in July 2015.
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In addition to his military assignments, Collins studied drums and percussion with Jonathan Wacker, Dom Moio and Gary Chaffee and conducting with A.G. MacGrannahan, Anthony Maiello, James Keene, Abel Ramirez and David Waltman. He has served as a clinician for bands from all over the United States and in Europe. He served as the assistant conductor of the Rainier Symphony from 2002-2004, the Central Oahu Honor Band conductor/clinician in 2006 and adjunct faculty to Hawaii Pacific University, teaching undergraduate courses in music.
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Collins holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Nevada, a Master of Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University and a Master of Music from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 Awards).