Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  News Features
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 New York Guard Band to Play at Embassy Reception in Israel By Eric Durr,
                New York National Guard
 CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. - Nine members of the New York Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division Band will play pop standards at an Independence Day reception in Jerusalem hosted by U.S. Ambassador Thomas Nides. The eight musicians and a sound engineer make up one of several musical performance teams that perform independently of the 40-Soldier concert band. “Most of our songs are pretty much classic American pop tunes,” said Staff Sgt. Drew Gansz, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the rock band. “We will be performing iconic tunes from artists ranging from Elton John to Bruno Mars. “ And they are ready to play requests. “We’re essentially a wedding band, “Gansz joked. The July 3 reception, held at the Israel Museum — the country’s most important archeological museum — will be the American Embassy’s annual July Fourth celebration. American military personnel, U.S. and Israeli government officials, members of Congress and perhaps even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend, Gansz said. The musicians are excited about the mission. “I feel grateful that the 42nd Division Band was invited to perform overseas,” said Sgt. Mallorie Meyer, a French horn player and singer, and music teacher in civilian life. “Experiences like this are a huge reason why I chose to join and continue to serve.” First Sgt. Leslie Saroka, a clarinet player and the 42nd Band’s senior enlisted leader, said he was looking forward to visiting another country and experiencing another culture. “This is a great honor to be able to provide music in this setting,” Saroka said. The New York National Guard is in the embassy entertainment business because of the New York National Guard’s bilateral relationship with Israel’s Homefront Command, according to Maj. David Myones, the New York National Guard’s State Partnership Program coordinator. The embassy usually asks for an active-duty band for this annual event, Myones said. In 2022, there was no active military band available, so the embassy staff reached out to the New York National Guard. A week out from July Fourth, there was no time to respond, Myones said. But New York officials told the embassy they would be interested with more lead time. This year, the Central Command Band said no to the embassy staff in March, so they turned to New York, Myones said. “We were able to support with 90 days' notice because we are going to be doing it on the cheap,” Myones said. The band’s annual training event — a week of rehearsals and a week-long performance tour across New York —was already scheduled for that period, he said. And the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift wing was able to provide transport on one of the wing’s C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. So, while most of the band plays concerts in Seneca Falls, Lewiston and Tonawanda, Gansz and his ensemble will travel to Israel and perform there. The rock band learned about the mission in mid-April and plans to play 28 songs, plus 40 they can perform if asked. Being in an Army band gives musicians the opportunity to serve their nation, bring pride and give thanks to service members and their families all through doing what they love most, performing music, Ganz said. “A little fun fact, and widely unknown, is that the U.S. Army is the world’s largest employer of full-time musicians,” Gansz said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  New York Army National Guard
 israel
 Oregon National Guard Honors Decorated Vietnam Veteran News Features • 21 hours ago
 National Guard Professional Education Center Celebrates 50 Years News Features • 3 days ago
 District of Columbia Guard Pilot Proud of Filipino Roots News Features • 6 days ago
 New York Guard Says Farewell to 100-year-old Guard Veteran News Features • 7 days ago
 Virginia Guard Takes Holistic Approach to Health, Readiness News Features • 13 days ago
 2024 (39)  2023 (107)  2022 (121)  2021 (119)  2020 (203)  2019 (208)  2018 (165)  2017 (164)  2016 (109)  2015 (52)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil