History

126th Army Band History

The 126th Army Band of the Michigan National Guard, the "Governor's Own" as of 2013, has been entertaining the citizens of Michigan for over 60 years. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the band has earned praise from music critics and audiences alike. The band is assigned to the Michigan National Guard Headquarters in Lansing, Michigan, and is stationed at the Belmont Armory in Belmont, Michigan. 


The tradition of military music in the Michigan National Guard dates back to colonial militia units at Michigan’s frontier forts. Colonial regiments stationed at Ft. Detroit, Ft. Mackinac, and Ft. Michilimackinac all employed drummers, fifers, or buglers as signal musicians as early as the 18th century. At the beginning of the Civil War, State Militia Regiments were each assigned a Regimental Band which was often uniformed and outfitted at the expense of the regimental officers. Many Michigan artillery, infantry, and cavalry regiments marched to war with such bands. During the Civil War, General George A. Custer, Commanding General of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, even went so far as to order the band first into battle in a famous engagement at Brandy Station. By the middle of the war, it became apparent that the large number of regimental bands was taxing the pay, personnel, and support systems of the army in the field. General order 91 (July 29, 1862) disbanded regimental bands and allowed one band of sixteen musicians each per brigade.​


​The 126th Army Band can trace its direct heritage back to the Headquarters Battery and Band of the 119th Field Artillery in Lansing. The Band of the 119th was active with the Headquarters unit during the Spanish-American War (at Santiago), World War I, and World War II. 

In 1941, the 119th Field Artillery’s Headquarters Band was federally recognized as Band, 119th Field Artillery and inducted into Federal service on April 7 in Lansing. By 1943, personnel constraints in the U.S. Army once again caused the disbandment of all regimental bands and the 119th Field Artillery Band was disbanded on March 15, 1943 at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. The 119th Field Artillery Band was then reconstituted and redesignated as the 46th Infantry Division Band on August 25, 1945. The 46th Infantry Division Band received federal recognition on December 16, 1946 and was commanded by Warrant Officer JG James H. Jennings.


119th Field Artillery and inducted into Federal service on April 7 in Lansing. By 1943, personnel constraints in the U.S. Army once again caused the disbandment of all regimental bands and the 119th Field Artillery Band was disbanded on March 15, 1943 at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. The 119th Field Artillery Band was then reconstituted and redesignated as the 46th Infantry Division Band on August 25, 1945. The 46th Infantry Division Band received federal recognition on December 16, 1946 and was commanded by Warrant Officer JG James H. Jennings.


In 1956, the 46th Infantry Division Band was disbanded, reorganized, and moved to the armory at 7 Michigan Avenue NW in Grand Rapids. Warrant Officer Charles R. Berry was chosen to command the new 46th Infantry Division Band which was made up of members of the Lansing band and members from the band of the 126th Infantry Regiment which had been stationed in Grand Rapids before their disbandment and subsequent reassignment to the U.S. Air Force.


​In 1965, the 46th Infantry Division Band was moved to the armory in Wyoming, Michigan. Two years later, on July 24, 1967 the band was ordered into active Federal service for the Detroit Riots and released from active Federal service on August 2, 1967.

On February 1, 1968 the 46th Infantry Division Band was reorganized and redesignated as the 126th Army Band and was relieved from assignment to the 46th Infantry Division. In 1973, Warrant Officer Paul Walters assumed the command of the band and held that position until his retirement in 1999. From 1999 to 2003, the band was under the command of Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Bruinsma and directed by First Sergeant Jim Zwarensteyn.


CW2 Jon Montgomery commanded the band from 2003 until he retired in 2018.​ In January, 2014 the band moved from the Grand Valley Armory the new Belmont Armory. From 2016-2020 1SG Devin Hahn lead the unit and retired on 31 March 2020. ​


Today the band is under the direction of CW3 Kimberly Ferrante and 1SG Andrew Schwallier.

COMMANDER: CW3 Kimberly Ferrante, Bandmaster

CW3 Ferrante enlisted in the United States Army as a musician in August of 1990 as a Piano Player. She served active duty with the 7th Infantry Division Light Band in Fort Ord, California followed by the 25th Infantry Division Light Band in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Upon the completion of her active duty tour in 1996, she transferred to the 126th Michigan National Guard Band located in Grand Rapids, Michigan while attending college. After graduating from college, CW3 Ferrante accepted employment in Honolulu, Hawaii and enlisted with the 111th Hawaii National Guard Band in Pearl City, Hawaii where she served for four years. In 2004 she returned to Michigan and transferred to the Army Reserve, serving with the 338th Army Band, Det-1 located in Livonia from 2004-2014. After obtaining the rank of Master Sergeant, she made the decision to become a Warrant Officer serving with the 338th Army Band from as Executive Officer from 2009-2014 and the 85th Army Band from 2014 to 2018. She assumed command of the 126th Army Band in February 2018.


CW3 Ferrante resides in Lake Orion where she is employed with GP Strategies as a Learning and Development Project Manager. She has served for over 25 years as a musician in the Army Band Field. She has performed for military and civilian dignitaries from across the country to include President George W. Bush, and President and First Lady Hilary Clinton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Shalikashvili, and numerous field-grade officers from all services and nations. She has also served as a trumpet player in many capacities to include duty bugler, concert, marching, and ceremonial band member. In addition, she served as the unit drum major for several years. Her overseas tours of duty included four years at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and a short tour to Haiti supporting Operation Uphold Democracy with the 25th Light Infantry Division Light Rock Band.

CW3 Ferrante earned a Bachelors of Fine Art from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, MI, and a Master of Science in Administration – Learning and Development from Central Michigan University. She is a graduate of the Army Basic and Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Warrant Officers Candidate Course, Warrant Officer Basic Course and Advanced Course, and the Commander’s Course.


DECORATIONS

In May, 2013, the 126th Army Band was declared "The Governor's Own". The official ceremony was on July, 2013 at the Camp Grayling Memorial and Review. See the proclamation here. 

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