Layla Vinson
Staff Writer
Opening the 2026 Summer Season, the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus return to Chautauqua Institution for their world premiere of “Evident Truths” at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Amphitheater.
“Evident Truths” features the contributions of the Concert Band, Soldiers’ Chorus and Army Rapper in a blend of symphonic band, choral forces and spoken word, according to the group’s website. Through an exploration of “ideals, sacrifices, contradictions, and aspirations woven throughout the American experience,” the song will offer a “contemporary reflection on 250 years of American history, service, and sacrifice.”
Founded in 1946 and 1957, respectively, the Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus have regularly performed on a wide range of distinguished stages and community theaters in every state in America and more than 20 countries.
The band and chorus productions, often complementary but occasionally independent, transcend numerous genres such as opera, orchestral classicals, jazz, Broadway and more, many of which have received high critical acclaim.
Some notable Soldiers’ Chorus performances include world fairs, the rededication of the Statue of Liberty and the 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon National Park. Meanwhile, the Concert Band, the oldest and largest of the U.S. Army Field Band’s five ensembles, has left lasting impressions in their participation among presidential inaugurations and diplomatic events.
For their bicentennial performance at Chautauqua Institution in 1976, the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus performed a commendable lineup steeped in rich historical heritage; their concluding production, “Stars and Stripes Forever,” highlighted tradition and honored former Chautauqua visitor and famous composer John Philip Sousa.
Fifty years later, having maintained an ongoing presence at Chautauqua Institution spanning decades, the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus have arranged to commemorate the U.S. semiquincentennial during a historically momentous year not only for the country, but Chautauqua Institution as well.
“Evident Truths” composer and 2021 Guggenheim Fellow Nkeiru Okoye was described on the Guggenheim Foundation website as being a “composer with a gift for incorporating many influences and styles within her work.”
“Commissioning new music gives us an opportunity to tell uniquely American and relevant stories to our audiences across the country,” Lt. Col. Domingos Robinson, commander of the U.S. Army Field Band, said on the group’s website. The piece “reflects the spirit of reflection, service, and unity that defines this historic milestone, and we are honored to collaborate with Nkeiru Okoye to bring this work to audiences across America.”
With such an expansive history, fresh commissions such as “Evident Truths” set out to blend contemporary elements and traditional qualities in a musical art piece capable of reaching a wide variety of audiences. The performance will align with the mission created by the U.S. Army Field Band and later adopted by the Soldiers’ Chorus: “Bringing the American Soldier and a diverse musical repertoire to local, national and international audiences.”
