Master Sergeant Kevin Walko earned a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University under the tutelage of Steven Cohen and J. Lawrie Bloom. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Duquesne University, where he studied clarinet with Jack Howell and jazz studies with Mike Tomaro and Sean Jones. Master Sgt. Walko performs with the Capitol Clarinets, and is an active private teacher, composer, and copyist in central Maryland. He has performed with Sean Jones, Paquito D’Rivera, Bob Mintzer, Yo-Yo Ma, Eddie Daniels, and William Preucil. In his free time, Master Sgt. Walko captains ultimate frisbee teams for the Central Maryland Ultimate Association.
The Concert Band, the oldest and largest of The U.S. Army Field Band’s five ensembles, has performed for over 100 million people worldwide since its founding in 1946. This elite 65-member group has toured across all 50 states and 25 countries, performing in venues ranging from the Berlin Philharmonie and Carnegie Hall to state fairs and high school gyms. Often joined by the Soldiers’ Chorus, the band presents marches, overtures, popular and patriotic music, and solos. They’ve collaborated with renowned orchestras like the Boston Pops and Detroit Symphony and participated in presidential inaugurations and diplomatic events, embodying American pride and professionalism in every performance.