Alumnus Assumes Command of The Army Ground Forces Band

The Army Ground Forces Band, now commanded by NSU alumnus Capt. Treg Ancelet,  is one of only three Army bands with a national touring mission and is part of the Army’s largest command, Army Forces Command.

Capt. Ancelet had been serving as the staff bands officer at Army Forces Command Headquarters in Fort McPherson, GA.
 
On hand to witness the occasion were his mother, Lorraine Ancelet of Houma; his aunt, Genevieve Ancelet, of Jennings, La.; and his sister, Laurie Curole and her sons Kyle and Joshua, of Houma.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead one of the best bands in the Army,” Ancelet said. “I intend to carry on the tradition set by my predecessor in deeply caring for America, the Army and our mission of instilling patriotic pride in our country as we perform for soldiers, their families and our communities.”

Ancelet holds a Bachelor of Arts in music education from Northwestern State University (1993) and a Master’s Degree in Music from George Mason University (2000), where he studied with Professor Anthony Maiello and served as assistant director of the wind ensemble.

Before assuming his FORSCOM duties, he was the deputy commander of the United States Military Academy Band, where he served as officer in charge of the “Hellcats,” the Army’s oldest established musical unit.

While serving at West Point, Capt. Ancelet led ceremonies on the famous parade field with “The Long Gray Line,” musically supported funerals for some of the country’s most recognized generals and conducted concerts at Trophy Point overlooking the Hudson River.

He says he is proudest of leading the fight song as the football team charged into the stadium for the Army-Navy football game.

Capt. Ancelet’s ensembles performed with Broadway legends: Tony Award-winning singer Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Mulan), composer and lyricist Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie) and soprano Marni “the Voice of Hollywood” Nixon, as well as with the New York Philharmonic.

His other assignments included serving as executive officer and associate conductor of The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band and as executive officer of the Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Company, U.S. Army School of Music.

As just one of only three Army bands with a national touring mission, The Army Ground Forces Band travels the nation, performing at local, regional and national events. The band also conducts master classes and clinics for music students at high schools and colleges around the country.

The 64 Soldiers assigned to the AGFB have passed highly selective auditions and are among the finest musicians in the United States Army Band Program. The majority of the band's members have studied music at some of the finest universities and conservatories.