U.S. Navy Band Commodores Offer Free Jazz Tour Across Northeast, Including Messiah University

From the bustling streets of the Northeast to the quiet campus of Messiah University, the U.S. Navy Band’s jazz ensemble, the Commodores, is delivering a series of free concerts that culminate on November 7, 2024, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Comprising 18 seasoned musicians who have graced stages for over fifty years, the ensemble will perform 21 shows across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut during its 2024 national tour.

As the flagship jazz unit of the U.S. Navy Band—based at Washington’s Navy Yard and established in 1925—the Commodores represent one of eleven Navy musical ensembles worldwide. Their mission spans ceremonial support, public concerts, educational clinics, and performances for government officials. Founded in 1969, the group specializes in big‑band swing while also showcasing original compositions crafted by its own musicians.

The itinerary is packed with family‑friendly, free shows. On June 18, the band will take the stage twice at Pittsburgh’s Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild—first at 7 p.m. and again at 9:30 p.m. The following evening, June 19, they’ll perform at the Rockefeller Arts Center in Fredonia, New York, at 7 p.m. June 20 will feature a 7 p.m. concert at Artpark in Lewiston, New York, where tickets will be distributed on a first‑come, first‑served basis at the box office. The Rochester Jazz Festival will host the Commodores on June 21, offering two sets at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on East Avenue and Gibbs Street.

The tour’s concluding stop arrives at Messiah University on November 7, when the Commodores will play a 7:30 p.m. set in the campus’s High Center for Worship and Performing Arts. While the concert is free, a ticket is required; attendees may secure one through the university’s box office or online. The U.S. Navy Band’s event calendar lists all dates and supplies further ticketing details.

These performances form a core element of the Navy’s outreach initiative, designed to link local communities with its musicians while underscoring the Navy’s role in national security. Capt. Robert “Seph” Coats, the band’s commanding officer, explained that the tour “connects with communities and tells the great stories of our Sailors working around the globe to keep us safe and free.” The concerts also honor jazz as a quintessential American art form, a sentiment amplified by the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026.

Their setlist blends swing‑era staples—Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Thad Jones—alongside vocal tributes to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. The ensemble also showcases original compositions penned by its own members. All 18 musicians are full‑time professionals, many of whom hold undergraduate and graduate degrees in music.

The U.S. Navy Band operates six performing groups—Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Sea Chanters chorus, Commodores jazz ensemble, Country Current country/bluegrass ensemble, and Cruisers popular music group—that tour across the United States and overseas. All public concerts are free, and the Navy actively invites residents to experience the music.

Those interested in additional information or interview opportunities may reach the Navy Band Public Affairs office at 202‑433‑4777 or by email at usnavybandmediarequests@us.navy.mil. Television appearances by the Commodores are also possible, subject to operational schedules.

The 2024 national tour underscores the Navy’s enduring dedication to cultural outreach and musical excellence. Its finale at Messiah University will give the Mechanicsburg community a complimentary chance to hear the Commodores’ blend of classic and contemporary jazz.