U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Stuart Jackson, assigned to the Eighth Army Band, performs the trombone alongside musicians from the Capital Defense Command Army Band during a concert in South Korea, Sept. 22, 2026. The joint performance strengthened connections between U.S. and South Korean service members while highlighting the cooperation that supports combined readiness on the Korean Peninsula. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jihun Park)
GWACHEON, South Korea — The Eighth Army Band took center stage alongside its Republic of Korea counterparts on the evening of Sept. 22, marking the 65th anniversary of the ROK Capital Defense Command with a joint commemoration concert at Gwacheon Citizen’s Hall.
The musical collaboration highlighted a dynamic, evolving partnership that extends beyond the battlefield. As this cultural exchange strengthens person-to-person ties, the harmony achieved on stage reflects the same interoperability U.S. and ROK forces strive for in operations. This combined effort is regularly demonstrated in joint training and exercises, where Eighth Army units partner with the CDC—the ROK military’s premier command charged with safeguarding the political, economic, and administrative heart of the nation with more than 10 million citizens—to ensure critical contingency logistics and theater defense strategies remain modernized and synchronized for the future.
Under the shared batons of both band commanders, the concert featured a diverse and inspiring repertoire that brought the spirit of partnership to life. Highlights included dynamic trumpet features in Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday,” spotlighting Eighth Army’s Sgt. Steven Vought alongside CDC trumpet players, as well as a poignant rendition of Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” accompanying a featured CDC trumpet soloist. Vocalists Sgt. Marc McLean of the Eighth Army Band and his CDC counterpart joined voices for stirring performances of Michael Jackson’s “Heal the World” and Staff Sgt. Jamie Buckley’s “We Go Together,” musically expressing shared sacrifice, unity, and an enduring commitment to peace.
The program also celebrated the coming autumn season and the spirit of service with Rossano Galante’s “Aurora Borealis” and Eric Whitacre’s “October,” while Steven Reineke’s “Portrait of Freedom” honored the valor of those who sacrifice to defend liberty. The evening culminated in a joint encore performance of both the ROK Army Song, “Yukgun-ga,” and the U.S. Army Song, “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” bringing the audience to their feet for a standing ovation as Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” played during the curtain call to conclude the night.
Attended by hundreds of local citizens, ROK military personnel, and ROK leaders, the concert provided an opportunity to engage directly with the host nation public. As the only forward-stationed U.S. Army band in the Indo-Pacific, the Eighth Army Band, ROK Capital Defense Command Celebrate 65 Years of Shared Resolve Through Joint Concert represented the command’s dedication to the communities it serves across the Korean Peninsula.
GWACHEON, South Korea — The Eighth Army Band took center stage alongside its Republic of Korea counterparts on the evening of Sept. 22, marking the 65th anniversary of the ROK Capital Defense Command with a joint commemoration concert at Gwacheon Citizen’s Hall.
The musical collaboration highlighted a dynamic, evolving partnership that extends beyond the battlefield. As this cultural exchange strengthens person-to-person ties, the harmony achieved on stage reflects the same interoperability U.S. and ROK forces strive for in operations. This combined effort is regularly demonstrated in joint training and exercises, where Eighth Army units partner with the CDC—the ROK military’s premier command charged with safeguarding the political, economic, and administrative heart of the nation with more than 10 million citizens—to ensure critical contingency logistics and theater defense strategies remain modernized and synchronized for the future.
Under the shared batons of both band commanders, the concert featured a diverse and inspiring repertoire that brought the spirit of partnership to life. Highlights included dynamic trumpet features in Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday,” spotlighting Eighth Army’s Sgt. Steven Vought alongside CDC trumpet players, as well as a poignant rendition of Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” accompanying a featured CDC trumpet soloist. Vocalists Sgt. Marc McLean of the Eighth Army Band and his CDC counterpart joined voices for stirring performances of Michael Jackson’s “Heal the World” and Staff Sgt. Jamie Buckley’s “We Go Together,” musically expressing shared sacrifice, unity, and an enduring commitment to peace.
The program also celebrated the coming autumn season and the spirit of service with Rossano Galante’s “Aurora Borealis” and Eric Whitacre’s “October,” while Steven Reineke’s “Portrait of Freedom” honored the valor of those who sacrifice to defend liberty. The evening culminated in a joint encore performance of both the ROK Army Song, “Yukgun-ga,” and the U.S. Army Song, “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” bringing the audience to their feet for a standing ovation as Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” played during the curtain call to conclude the night.
Attended by hundreds of local citizens, ROK military personnel, and ROK leaders, the concert provided an opportunity to engage directly with the host nation public. As the only forward-stationed U.S. Army band in the Indo-Pacific, the Eighth Army Band, ROK Capital Defense Command Celebrate 65 Years of Shared Resolve Through Joint Concert represented the command’s dedication to the communities it serves across the Korean Peninsula.
“The strength of our alliance is in honoring our shared sacrifices, celebrating how we’ve overcome historical hardships, and embracing the future alongside the people we serve with and the shared values that bind us,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tim Rogers, commander of the Eighth Army Band. Whether securing critical infrastructure or sharing a music stand, Eighth Army and the Republic of Korea military continue to prove they are moving forward as one—”Katchi Kapshida.”
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For more information, contact the Eighth Army Public Affairs office at usarmy.humphreys.8-army.mbx.public-affairs-office@army.mil.
