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Captain Force Captain Kenneth R. Force, USMS holds a BM,
MM and 6th year Professional Diploma from the Manhattan
School of Music. He has an additional Masters Degree in
Counseling from the New York Institute of Technology. Captain
Force's distinguished musical career includes assistant
first trumpet with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra;
numerous Broadway shows; the Master Virtuosi of New York;
and numerous free-lance positions. In addition, he was a
member of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Band under the legendary Merle Evans and the Clyde Beaty-Cole
Bros. Circus Band. Captain Force received his bandsman's
diploma from the U.S. Naval School of Music in Washington,
D.C. and subsequently served as a cornet soloist with the
First U.S. Army Band at Governors Island, New York. Several
years later, he served as Bandmaster for the 42nd Infantry
(Rainbow) Division Band and the 319th "Statue of Liberty"
Army Reserve Band. Captain Force was appointed as a professional
consultant to Columbia Artists Management for sever British
Military Band tours of North America. He co-produced the
"British Salute to the U.S. Bicentennial Tattoo"
in Newport, RI which featured a cast of over 5,000. Prior to Captain Force's appointment to
the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy as Director of Music in
1971, he was the Band Director of the Port Chester High
School Band in Port Chester, New York. During his five years
at Port Chester, the band rose in prominence and consistently
won superior 6A ratings in concert music from the N.Y. State
School Music Association. The groups also consistently won
marching awards and remains the only high school band in
America ever to be chosen to play for an actual performance
of the Ringling Bros. Circus. After gaining fame in many
tours and festivals, the Band was chosen in 1971 to march
in the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California.
Today former members of that band serve as music educators,
department chairpersons, school principals and as professional
playing musicians in major symphony orchestras throughout
America. Captain Force has written many articles
on music for magazines and is also an arranger/composer.
He was commissioned by the State of New York Bicentennial
Commission to compose a Cantata for Chorus and Band based
on the Inauguration of George Washington in 1789. He was
subsequently commissioned by the State of New York, to compose
a second Cantata based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., which received its premiere in 1986. Captain
Force is a prolific writer whose articles have appeared
in "The Instrumentalist," "Musical America,"
"BD Guide," and several other publications. He
is the author of the book "British Band Concepts in
America" and is frequently called on to give clinics
and guest conduct throughout the U.S. and Europe. The NY
Times called him "...a human encyclopedia of military
ceremonial and musical data." Amongst the Bands he
has conducted are the US Marine Corps Band (The President's
Own), The Band of the Black Watch, The Band of Her Majesty's
Grenadier Guards and Her Majesty's Welsh Guards, The Band
of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, and The Dutch Royal Military
Band as well as numerous College, University, and High School
All-State Festival Bands.
Captain Force currently serves as President of the
Board of Directors for the World famous Goldman Memorial Band who's
home is at the Damrosch Park in the band shell at Lincoln Center
in New York City. This professional band is the third oldest music
organization in New York after the NY Philharmonic and the Metropolitan
Opera Company. The Band recently celebrated its 83rd Anniversary
of presenting free summer concerts to the citizens of New York.
He also serves on the Board of the Gramacy Brass Band, a very active
professional band that performs throughout the New York City area. In 2002, Captain Force was made an honorary member
of the Alumni of the Merchant Marine Academy (a rare occurrence).
Also in 2002, the USDAN Center for the Performing Arts honored Captain
Force with a lifetime achievement award, along with actor Alan Alda
and Betty Allen, from the Metropolitan Opera. In presenting this
award, Dale Lewis, Executive Director of the Center, referred to
Captain Force as an "American treasure." Dana Giona, Chairman
of the National Endowment for the Arts, cited him for his "...distinguished
career as an outstanding musician and teacher representing a lifelong
pursuit of excellence. I commend [him] for devoting [his] life's
work to one of the most soul-stirring of music's genres - band music
- and for [his] expertise as a composer, conductor and music historian.
[I hope his] talents continue to inspire and uplift audiences for
many years to come."
In March 2004, Captain Force was elected to Honorary membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association which was founded by John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman. (He is one of only eight individuals world-wide to hold that distinction.) In May 2004, he was presented with the Daughters of the American Revolution "Medal of Honor" for his dedication and service to the "Arts, Historic Preservation, and for his Patriotism."
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