Retired Master Gunnery Sgt. Amy Horn spent three decades as a French horn player within the U.S. Marine (“The President’s Own”) Band, a premier band of 157 musicians who have more than talent and a good ear.
“I definitely put in the work — beginning in the eighth grade I practiced three hours a day — the Marine Corps Band was an extension of self-discipline and a standard of excellence required of me every day,” said Horn, who likens the audition process to one for the highest echelon of U.S. symphony orchestras. “From the top down, everything had to be right musically. There’s an embodiment and ethos. You had to give 100-percent.”
Today, Dr. Horn is just as committed to excellence as an adjunct professor at George Mason University and as principal horn within the American Pops Orchestra.
“Attendees to the American Pops performances aren’t just sitting in a concert, there’s theatrics and innovative musicality. It’s an event,” said Horn. “One of our earlier concerts was dedicated to music from the 1960’s and we actually put tables on stage and concert goers were right in the midst of us playing. This interaction has extended to our children’s-themed shows as well. Our conductor has great ideas and just brings them to fruition.”
The conductor Horn is referencing is Luke Frazier. Three years ago, Frazier, founded the American Pops Orchestra. An orchestra dedicated to “breathing new life” into the Great American Songbook and “inspiring new audiences.” Performances feature acclaimed Broadway stars, Grammy award-winning singers/songwriters and veteran musicians. At 32, Frazier is on a personal mission to redefine how orchestral concerts are received and done.
“A lot of people assume that an orchestral performance is for an old fuddy-duddy, or only an elite class of people, but what we’re committed to is producing music that crosses generations, socioeconomic situations, race and gender,” said Frazier. “It’s an experience of iconic American music whether it’s classical, popular or rock.”
His musicians have resumes that are extensively long and deep. Many of whom are either currently serving or have served in U.S. military bands. His musicians also have a dedication to service and a commitment to community engagement. During the third Thursday of every month, the American Pops Orchestra goes on the road.
“We do outreach concerts for senior citizens, at schools — but we also give free tickets to victims of domestic violence, the Veteran Tickets Foundation, and to various groups that otherwise wouldn’t have access to these types of concerts — we give back to the community five times as many free concerts as paid concerts,” Frazier said. “For too long the trend in orchestral music has been drifting away from what it originally started as. It’s the music of the people. And it’s a great tool to tie people together across boundaries and the Washington metropolitan area is a diverse area ethnically, socioeconomically, and just about every way you can think of.”
Frazier’s firm message to current and aspiring musicians and performers, “If music is not building community then you are doing only 50-percent of your work — you’ve got to make great art but also build community with that great art.”
The American Pops presents the family show “Around the World in 80 Days,” Jan. 6 at the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in southwest Washington, D.C., at 2 and 5 p.m. To learn more about this performance, and the rest of the 2018 season schedule, visit http://theamericanpops.org/s3/80days.
Pentagram Staff Writer Arthur Mondale can be reached at awright@dcmilitary.com.