Performances September 2000- May 2001

Saturday 23 September 2000. DC-COA Picnic. National Naval Medical Center. Brass and Choral groups.
Saturday 18 November 2000. Dining Out. USUHS. National Naval Medical Center. Brass and Choral groups.
Thursday 14 December 2000. COA reception.. USUHS. National Naval Medical Center.Chamber Group.
Tuesday 19 December 2000. Surgeon General's Holiday reception at 10:00 a.m. Parklawn Building, 18^th floor, SG's conference room. Choral Group. In attendance the SG, ADM David Satcher, Deputy Surgeon General RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu, a musician, CPO's, PAC Chairs, DCP Personnel, OPDIV heads and other distinguished guests.
Thursday 04 January 2001. Annual meeting of the Anchor and Caduceus, Washington, DC. Brass and Choral groups performed the National Anthem and the PHS March. The Chamber group played for over an hour as well.
Tuesday 29 May 2001. Opening Ceremony of the Annual COA Meeting, Washington, DC.. The brass group played 15 minutes of pre opening ceremony music and provided music for the PHS Honor Guard. The choral group joined the brass group for the National Anthem and the PHS March. The brass group is conducted by CAPT Geralyn S. Johnson, Band Director and Conductor. The lead coordinator for the brass group is LCDR Elise Young. The lead conductors for the choral group are LT Moira G. McGuire and LCDR Mary L. McMaster.
Wednesday 30 May 2001. Dinner reception at the Annual COA meeting of the COA, Washington, DC. Chamber group. Lead coordinator, CDR Laurie Burke.

Photo of the premier performance of the Commissioned Corps Ensemble. The event is the DC Branch COA, picnic. Saturday Morning September 23, 2000.

Officers from Left to Right are:

Back Row: CDR Rebecca Sheets, CDR Alice Knoben, LCDR Mary Lou McMaster LTJG Carrie Earnheart, Lt Moira McGuire and LCDR Linda Murphy

Front Row; CDR Charles Hoppes, lead coordinator of the brass group on the French horn, CDR Earl Moore, trombone, LCDR Elise Young lead coordinator of the vocal group on the trumpet, CAPT Paul Hepp, baritone horn and CAPT John J. Bartko (ret), organizer of the Commissioned Corps Ensemble..

Immediate Front: Guest conductor. Charlie Hoppes, Jr.

The Commissioned Corps Ensemble brass and choral groups had their first formal function performance on Saturday 18 November 2000 and the PHS -Dining Out. The location was the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) on the campus of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. The ensemble consisting of the Brass Quintet under the direction of CDR Charles Hoppes and the Choral group under the direction of LCDR Elise Young, performed a rousing instrumental and singing version of the PHS March. The Choral group led an enthusiastic audience in the singing of the March. The performance was well received by the audience and they offered many laudatory comments

PHS Dining Out: Saturday 18 November 2000

In the Photo: Seated left to right. CDR Charles Hoppes, coordinator of the brass group, French horn; LCDR Elise Young, coordinator of the choral group, trumpet; LT Krista Scardina, trumpet; CDR Earl Moore, Trombone and CAPT Paul Hepp, euphonium.

Standing left to right. CAPT John J. Bartko (ret), organizer and executive officer, CDR Sharon Ludwig, LCDR Mary Lou McMaster, CDR Alice Knoben, CAPT James Knoben, LT Moira McGuire and CDR Rebecca Sheets.

Credit for the poster is due: CAPT Derek Dunn, co-executive officer, LCDR Cynthia Striley, and Brenda Jones all of Cincinnati and CAPT John J. Bartko (ret).

The first formal appearance of he Commissioned Corps Ensemble Chamber group was on December 14, 2000 at the COA's reception held on the campus of the Uniformed Services University Health Sciences, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

The Commissioned Corps Ensemble Chamber Group December 14, 2000

In the photo, left to right. CDR Laurie Burke, lead coordinator, cello; and CAPT Mary Andrich, violin.

In this photo, Deputy Surgeon General RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu joins the chamber group. Also appearing is CAPT John J. Bartko (ret).

The Commissioned Corps Ensemble Choral group under the direction of Lt. Moira G. McGuire and LCDR Mary L. McMaster performed for the Surgeon General's holiday reception on 19 December, 2000. They presented a wide selection of holiday songs . The group was graciously introduced by Deputy Surgeon General RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu. The performance was well received by the guests, who offered many laudatory comments.

The Commissioned Corps Ensemble Choral group

Left to Right in the Photo are: CAPT John J. Bartko (ret), LT. Moira McGuire, lead coordinator, LCDR Linda Murphy, ADM David Satcher, Surgeon General, CAPT James Knoben, CDR Alice Knoben, LCDR Mary Lou McMaster (lead coordinator)

Thursday 04 January 2001. Annual meeting of the Anchor and Caduceus, Washington, DC. Brass and Choral groups performed the National Anthem and the PHS March. The Chamber group played for over an hour as well.

Anchor and Caduceus: January 4,2001

Brass Group: LCDR Elise Young, Trumpet; CDR Charles Hoppes, Lead Coordinator, French Horn; CDR Earl Moore, Trombone and CAPT Paul Hepp, Euphonium

Choral Group. CDR Alice Knoben, LCDR Mary L. McMaster, (lead coordinator), CAPT James Knoben, CDR Rebecca Sheets, and LT. Moira G. McGuire, lead coordinator and CAPT John J. Bartko (ret)

Chamber Group CDR Laurie Burke, lead coordinator, cello; CDR Joseph Despins violin and CAPT Mary Andrich, violin.

At the 29 May 2001 annual meeting of the COA the choral group sang the National Anthem and the PHS March.

The Commissioned Corps Ensemble Choral group

In the Choral group photograph from left to right are:

LCDR Renee Joskow, CAPT Kerima Gibbons, LCDR Linda S. Murphy, LCDR Felicia Collins, LCDR Arlene M. Lester, CDR Pete DeMonte, Jr., LCDR Kathleen McDuffie, Lt. Moira G. McGuire (lead coordinator), LCDR Mary L. McMaster (lead coordinator), and CDR Rebecca Sheets. Absent from the photo CDR Alice Knoben.

At the 30 May 2001 Wednesday evening reception of the COA annual meeting, the chamber group played wonderfully for an hour prior to the banquet.

T he Commissioned Corps Ensemble Chamber Group

In the chamber group photograph from left to right

CAPT (ret) John J. Bartko (administration), CDR Laurie Burke, lead coordinator, cello; CDR Joseph Despins violin and CAPT Mary Andrich, violin.

To schedule a performance of the Commissioned Corps Ensemble, please contact CAPT John Bartko (jjbartko@erols.com) at least 30 days prior to the event.