About
The Brigade of Midshipmen possesses a vast number of very talented instrumentalists. These midshipmen come from backgrounds of intense disciplined training since early childhood. There are a variety of solo performance opportunities as well as ensembles such as the Midshipmen String Quartet, Orchestra, and Mariachi among others. For years, midshipmen have been active honing their instrumental skills and talents and have enjoyed performing on a variety of levels from recitals to the concert stage. These soloists and ensembles perform for a various events both on and off the Yard, ranging from chapel services and the Winter Musical to full concerts.
Midshipmen String Quartet
The String Quartet plays serious, well-known classical repertoire of the great composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, and others. The quartet is a refined and elegant ensemble capable of performing electrifying music or subtle ballads.
Midshipmen Chamber Group
The Midshipmen Chamber Group consists of gifted midshipman string instrumentalists, many of whom have been classically trained and playing for many years.
Recent repertoire has included:
Arcangelo Corelli's Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8, the "Christmas Concerto"
Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, "L'estate" (Summer)
Johann Sebastian Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
Peter Warlock's Capriol - Suite for String Orchestra
Auditions
The Enstrumental Ensemble is an activity for midshipmen (matriculated students) at the Naval Academy, which is a four year undergraduate university. If you are interested in auditioning for the ensemble, you must first apply and receive an appointment to the Naval Academy. Information on that process can be found at the Naval Academy’s Admissions Department homepage.
Midshipmen interested in participating in the ensemble should contact Mr. Monte Maxwell or the Music Office at x3-2439.
We welcome any midshipman who is interested in joining us on any instrument... from violin to trumpet... from harp to piano... from timpani to saxophone - and everything in between!
Director
MR. MONTE MAXWELL, Director of Chapel Music, and Chapel Organist, received his undergraduate degree at Texas Christian University and his graduate degree from the Juilliard School in New York. Additionally, he was invited to study at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he earned the Artist Diploma, the conservatory's most distinguished degree in Organ Performance.
Mr. Maxwell's performing career has taken him to numerous concert halls, churches, and cathedrals, including esteemed venues such as New York’s Lincoln Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Kennedy Center, and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He has performed in Europe, South America, and Canada. He served as Staff Organist, performing weekly concerts on Philadelphia’s famed John Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, the largest playing pipe organ in the world, and has performed with Broadway artists, members of the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, the New York Philharmonic, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Mr. Maxwell's annual All Saints' Day Organ Concert has become a staple of the Naval Academy and greater Annapolis cultural community. The standing-room-only event drew some 3,000 people into the Naval Academy Chapel, breaking all records in attendance for any event through the Chapel's history. Due to the popularity of this event, the Academy now offers two ticketed performances of this concert each year. In his free time, Mr. Maxwell is an avid roller coaster enthusiast and a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Contact
Please contact the United States Naval Academy Music Department with any questions or comments you may have.
United States Naval Academy
Musical Activities Department
Mailing Address: Alumni Hall, 675 Decatur Rd. Annapolis, MD 21402-5086
Phone Number: (410) 293-2439
Fax Number: (410) 293-3218
