Navy Musicians Association

The Navy Musicians Association is a non-profit veterans organization of past and present United States Navy musicians. The NMA was founded in 1995 and has become a 501 tax exempt veteran's organization under the U.S. Tax Code.

Mission

The purpose of the Navy Musicians Association is "to bring together, through annual reunions, past and present members of Navy bands; to promote camaraderie; to emphasize the importance of music in the Navy; and to maintain liaison with active bands in the Navy and Marine Corps, in order to preserve the tradition of Navy music."

Membership Eligibility

All past and present members of official United States Navy bands are eligible for membership. There are no time-in-service or rank requirements.

History

The NMA was founded in 1995 by a group of retired Navy musicians residing in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia who had served at the United States Armed Forces School of Music and in the United States Atlantic Fleet band. The organization has grown to accept former and present members of all official U.S. Navy bands.

Reunions

The annual reunion of the Navy Musicians Association is held in June of each year. During the four-day affair, members form concert bands, big bands and jazz combos that rehearse daily and perform at concerts, dances and jam sessions. A reunion highlight, when location and scheduling permit, is a concert of patriotic music by an active-duty Navy band.
Reunions are held in the NMA's "homeport" of Virginia Beach, Virginia and in various other cities. Recent locations have included:

2006 -- Louisville, Kentucky
2007 -- Virginia Beach, Virginia
2008 -- Memphis, Tennessee
2009 -- Virginia Beach, Virginia
2010 -- San Antonio, Texas
2011 -- Virginia Beach, Virginia
2012 -- Orlando, Florida
2013 -- Virginia Beach, Virginia
2014 -- Virginia Beach, Virginia
2015 -- Virginia Beach, Virginia
2016 -- Kansas City, Missouri
2017 -- Virginia Beach, Virginia
2018 -- Virginia Beach, Virginia
2019 -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Leger Lines

The Navy Musicians Association's quarterly newsletter is Leger Lines, whose title is borrowed from that of the former newsletter of the U.S. Navy Music Program. Leger Lines is published quarterly and sent to all members.

O.C. McMillan Scholarship Fund

The O.C. McMillan Scholarship Award is a cash award intended to give financial assistance to a young musician who is enrolled in or has been accepted for enrollment in a college-level degree program in music.