State College Native Performs with Navy Band During Fleet Week

A State College native who has served in the U.S. Navy for eight years is performing with Navy Band Northeast this week at Fleet Week New York.

Musician 2nd Class Margaret Pedlow Smith, a 2002 State High graduate and a 2007 Penn State graduate, serves as a clarinetist with Navy Band Northeast. She is a member of Pops Ensemble and Ceremonial Ensemble, both divisions of Navy Band Northeast located out of Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island.

This is her fifth and final time performing at Fleet Week.

“Each of my four Fleet Weeks have provided the opportunity to perform for both the American public and international visitors in New York City,” Smith said in a Navy release. “Representing the Navy through our concerts and connecting with audience members has been a great honor and a rewarding experience. This Fleet Week will be special to me because it is my last, and I look forward to having several family members in attendance for our performance in Central Park.”

In addition to the Pops Ensemble performance in Central Park earlier this week, the Ceremonial Band will perform at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J. on Saturday.

Smith’s father, Dr. George W. Pedlow III, resides in State College. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and master’s in musicology from Penn State, where she also performed in the Blue Band.

Fleet Week New York is in its 29th year and is an annual tradition celebrating the sea services. It gives New Yorkers and residents of surrounding areas an opportunity to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, and to see the latest capabilities of the maritime services.