APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 3, 2016
AUDITION DATE: December 2016

The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” the U.S. Army’s premier musical organization, announces a vacancy for ACCORDION with The U.S. Army Strings. SGM Manny Bobenrieth who has been the accordionist for the group since 1986 is retiring after a long and distinguished career.

Manny is from Concepcion, Chile and has a degree from Catholic University. SGM Manuel Bobenrieth has performed in many different musical mediums and venues, including Broadway musicals, the Contemporary Music Forum, and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.

He has also appeared with legendary jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd in a tribute to the music of jazz accordionist Art Van Damme. He can be heard on the soundtrack to the Discovery Channel television series “The Great Chefs” as a guest artist with The Charlie Byrd Trio. The Manny Bobenrieth Ensemble was featured at the world famous Blues Alley Jazz club. From 1984-1986, SGM Bobenrieth toured Europe and the Caribbean aboard the SS Norway as accordionist for Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line.

As accordionist with The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” SGM Bobenrieth has performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, at numerous White House State Dinners in honor of foreign dignitaries such as Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and The Emperor of Japan. In addition, he has written numerous arrangements for The U.S. Army Strings, which have been featured at Avery Fisher Hall, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the State Department, the Vice President’s residence, and the White House. Since 2004, SGM Bobenrieth has been the Group Leader for The U.S. Army Strings.

The U.S. Army Strings, a premier ensemble of the U.S. Armed Forces, provide a musical backdrop for many of the country’s most notable events. Their mission is to serve as musical ambassadors for high-level military and government events at home and abroad, as well as in concert for public audiences. The elite musicians that comprise this ensemble have been trained at the most prestigious music conservatories and universities in the country. This versatile ensemble performs as The U.S. Army Strolling Strings, mixed chamber ensembles, and The U.S. Army Orchestra.

The U.S. Army Strolling Strings are one of the most requested musical ensembles by our nation’s military leadership. Since its inception during the Eisenhower administration, the group has provided musical entertainment at the White House for every president. Missions include performing for the Department of Defense, the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, kings, queens, and heads of state from countries worldwide.

The Strolling Strings offer audiences the unique perspective of being amongst the musicians who elegantly move about the venue playing their instruments. A distinctly unique member of its instrumentation, the ensemble boasts an accordion, which adds rich color and texture to the group’s sound. The Strolling Strings offer a wide array of memorized repertoire, including patriotic, classical, international, jazz, Broadway, bluegrass, and exclusive music arrangements for special guests and events.

See link for further information on the US Army Strings, Audition Information, and Application Procedures.