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Celtic Aire tours Texas

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ryan J. Sonnier
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
WICHITA FALLS, Texas --  The United States Air Force Band's Celtic Aire recently toured an estimated 700 miles of Texas roads from March 4 - 12, 2016. The band began in 2007 and is comprised of five members from the Air Force's Singing Sergeants.

"My favorite part was the people of Texas, playing for patriotic crowds," Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Hoffmann, Celtic Aire percussionist, said. "Shaking hands and meeting people we normally wouldn't be able to interact with, were constantly thanking us for our service."

The mission of the band is to honor those who have served, to inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and to positively impact the community on behalf of the Air Force and the United States of America.

"Since day one, honoring our veterans has been exciting for me - it never gets old," Master Sgt. Joseph Haughton, Celtic Aire vocalist/guitarist, said. "When we perform the service medleys and people stand, emotions flow through them and you can feel the energy in the room."

Celtic Aire performed at the North Texas Irish Festival in Dallas, Texas, March 4 - 6, for an estimated crowd of 75,000 people; the largest festival the band has ever played.

"Texas is full of very patriotic people and they were excited to hear us perform," Haughton said. "It's really nice to be around people that respect what we do."

After Dallas, the band traveled to Waco Hippodrome, Temple Cultural Activities Center, Abilene's Paramount Theatre, Fort Worth's Ridglea Theatre and the Wichita Theatre Performing Arts Centre in Wichita Falls. The tour ended with a performance at the Wichita Falls' Irish Street Festival, March 12.

"This festival was important because it helps grow the local community and the military," Hoffmann said. "The community around Sheppard is very supportive of the base and it was a chance to make that tie stronger."

The band performed music that was traditional and arranged by them. Some of the music performed can be found on their album, "As I Roved Out," which released in 2015.

"[Celtic Aire] gives us an outlet to be individually creative and allows us to connect more directly with the audience," Hoffmann said. "It's an honor that I get to play with these extremely talented vocalists and instrumentalists whom I have admired for years."

For more information on performances and recordings, please visit www.usafband.af.mil.