Sergeant Major Ward Yager grew up in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, and calls Memphis his hometown. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland, a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Memphis. Sgt. Maj. Yager has recorded for Klavier Recordings, GIA Publications, and Summit Records, and served as an instructor at summer camps and festivals at the University of Memphis and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. His teachers include Chris Gekker, Keith Johnson, John Holt, and David Spencer. Sgt. Maj. Yager joined The U.S. Army Field Band in 2004 and currently serves as Trumpet Section Leader and Leader of the Army Field Band Brass Quintet.
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.