Opening Day – Fall Semester 2026

Opening day for the SSILL Fall semester was on September 8th.  The U.S. Coast Guard Brass Quintet from New London provided an entertaining and informative concert for the membership.

​The ensemble consisted of five musicians who played two trumpets, the french horn, the trombone and the tuba.  Their repertoire included classical music, a march, patriotic tunes, as well as popular songs by the Beatles.  

The session was interactive and the membership had many questions about how it all works.  The Quintet is part of the Coast Guard’s  fifty-five member band.  Playing music is their only role within the Coast Guard.   However, they do teach music privately, and some of them at the University level.   They bypass basic training.  The average time spent playing with the Coast Guard before retirement is twenty years.

This was a great way to start the new semester.  It was great to welcome members and guests back after the summer break.