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Meet the Concert Band's newest member!

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Kaitlin Taylor
The Concert Band's newest member, Technical Sgt. Carolyn Braus, arrived in mid-December and performed her inaugural concert with band in January at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa. In addition to her role in the saxophone section in the Concert Band, Braus will also play baritone saxophone in the Saxophone Quartet. This chamber ensemble performs in various chamber performances and protocol missions.

Q: Can you tell us your background? Where you are from and where you studied?

A: I grew up in Bismarck, N.D., with my parents and three siblings, of which I am the youngest. I received my bachelor's degree in saxophone performance from North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., where I studied with Dr. Matthew Patnode. (By the way, NDSU's football team just won their fifth consecutive championship down in Frisco, Texas. Go Bison!!) I spent the last two years earning my master's degree in saxophone performance from Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., where I studied with Dr. Christopher Creviston.

Q: Was baritone saxophone a primary instrument of study for you in school? Is part of being a classical saxophonist learning to play all types of saxophones at a certain level of proficiency?

A: While saxophonists are expected to play all the voices of the saxophone family at a certain level of proficiency, baritone is a relatively new specialization for me. I've had many years of solo and chamber experience on soprano, alto and tenor, but I first began playing bari seriously about a year ago in preparation for an audition for the bari seat in the Capitol Quartet (with whom I now play). Then the summer after I graduated from ASU, there happened to be a vacancy in the Air Force Band for the bari seat. A year ago, I never would have guessed that bari would turn out to be such a significant part of my career!

Q: When in school, what type of job were you hoping for? Did you ever hear about or consider a military band?

A: Especially during my undergraduate years, I wasn't sure where the saxophone would lead me. I thought maybe I would work as a freelance musician or teach at the postsecondary
level. As I got closer to beginning my master's, I thought more and more about the possibility of joining a military band. I had heard about the bands back in high school, and one of the clarinet professors at NDSU, who was a retired Air Force band member, would talk about them occasionally. It sounded to me like an outstanding gig, so the last year of my master's, I kept a close eye on the Air Force premier and regional band vacancies. Everything lined up pretty amazingly.

Q: What did you think of basic training? How was your experience?

Having no freedom and little contact with the outside world for two months was rough. Because they found out I had a master's degree, my MTIs [Military Training Instructors] designated me our flight's academic monitor. It's pretty incredible to think about how many people from diverse backgrounds go through the Air Force basic training program each year.

Q: Have you learned anything so far about being in the Air Force that has totally surprised you?

A: The price of kombucha tea at the commissary is outstanding! Ha. Nothing has totally surprised me yet. I wasn't sure what my typical day to day or week to week schedule would be like in the Air Force, but I think I'm starting to get an idea now, and it looks like it'll be an awesome gig.

Q: What are you most excited about regarding your new position?

A: I'm excited to get out and do some playing and make some connections with all these great musicians who are in the area! It's already been really fun getting to know saxophonists who are in the other D.C. bands, through the InterService Saxophone Ensemble that'll be performing for the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium this week. I'm also very excited to continue working with the other members of our saxophone section. They're great guys.

Q: What other hobbies or interest do you have that you'd like to share with our audience?

A: I love the outdoors, running, and biking, so I'm thrilled to live in an area that has so many opportunities for all of that. I also enjoy spending time doing other artsy things like painting, drawing, and songwriting.

The U.S. Air Force Band is very pleased to have Braus aboard as one of our newest Airmen musicians. We hope her years with us are a wonderful experience for her, and we know she will be a wonderful addition to the Concert Band and other ensembles.