United States Navy Band “Sea Chanters” chorus

The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus is the official chorus of the United States Navy. The ensemble performs a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, including the sea chantey, to Broadway musicals. Under the leadership of Senior Chief Musician Russell J. Rathier, the Sea Chanters appear throughout the United States and often perform at the White House, the Vice President’s home and for other Washington dignitaries. In 1956, Lt. Harold Fultz, then the Band’s assistant leader, organized a vocal ensemble from the Navy School of Music in Anacostia to sing chanteys and patriotic songs for the State of the Nation dinner. An immediate success, Admiral Arleigh Burke, then Chief of Naval Operations, transferred them to the Navy Band, named them the “Sea Chanters” and tasked this all-male chorus with perpetuating the songs of the sea. Female voices were added in 1980, increasing the chorus’ repertoire.

The Sea Chanters have become one of the preeminent professional choral ensembles in the country today. The Sea Chanters have performed at national events such as the 55th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in 2005. They have played a vital role in comforting the nation in times of mourning, including appearances at memorials for the astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia and the Presidential wreath laying ceremony at the United Airlines Flight 93 crashsite in Shanksville, Pa. Their performance of “Amazing Grace” at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance at the National Cathedral in Washington after the events of 9/11 inspired all in attendance as well as a national television audience. In 1994, the chorus provided music at the funeral of former President Nixon in Yorba Linda, Calif., and the interment of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at Arlington National Cemetery. They have appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors and with the National Symphony Orchestra for the nationally telecast “National Memorial Day Concerts” at the U.S. Capitol. In addition the group has appeared on “Larry King Live” and “CBS This Morning” as well as at the premier of the movie Pearl Harbor.

Noted choral directors Dale Warland and Donald Neuen have guest conducted the ensemble, and renowned composers Roger Bourland, William MacDuff and Lloyd Pfautsch have written works especially for them. Other notable orchestral appearances include the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
For the first 25 years the men of the Sea Chanters enjoyed a great reputation performing with such stars as Perry Como, Marian Anderson and Kenny Rogers. Throughout their history, the Sea Chanters have remained true to the Navy’s watchwords of pride and professionalism.