As seen on the NBC-TV special From The Heart and several nationally telecast National Memorial Day Concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra, the US Navy Sea Chanter Chorus performs a collection of American and English nautical folk songs.

The Sea Chanters, the 20-voice chorus of The United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., perform a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, including the sea chantey, to Broadway musicals. Organized in 1956 as an all-male chorus specializing in songs of the sea, the group was named by Admiral Arleigh Burke, then Chief of Naval Operations. Female voices were added in 1980 and the chorus' repertoire expanded. The Sea Chanters marked their 45th anniversary in June 2001 with a concert and clinic featuring guest conductor Donald Neuen and the premiere of "Keeping the Ocean Free" by Roger Bourland and William MacDuff.

The Sea Chanters, under the leadership of Senior Chief Musician Russell J. Rathier and musical director, Chief Musician Keith D. Hinton, appear throughout the United States, and often perform at the White House, Vice President's house and for Washington dignitaries.

In 1994 the chorus provided music at the funerals of former President Nixon in Yorba Linda, Calif., and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at Arlington National Cemetery. They have appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra for the nationally telecast "National Memorial Day Concerts" directed by Erich Kunzel at the U.S. Capitol. The chorus performed aboard the USS Constitution in Boston, Mass. for the Constitution Bicentennial Celebration, and in 1988, the group gave its first performance for the annual Independence Day celebration at the Washington Monument grounds. A year later, they appeared on the nationally televised NBC special "From The Heart."

The chorus also performed at the Kennedy Center Honors for Bob Hope, and appeared with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Virginia Symphony and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra .