Chief Master Sgt. Stacy Newbrough Ascione is the Chief of the Singing Sergeants and Max Impact, and is the principal piccoloist of the Concert Band. Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, her career in the Air Force began in 1997 as a flutist with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West at Travis Air Force Base, California, and joined The United States Air Force Band in 1999.
Before joining the Air Force, Chief Ascione was invited to tour the United States with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra as piccolo soloist, and also toured the U.S. and Russia as piccoloist with the American-Russian Youth Orchestra under such notable conductors as Valery Gergiev. Additionally, she has performed with the Apollo Orchestra, American Festival Pops Orchestra, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Prince William Symphony Orchestra, the Maryland Choral Society Orchestra, the Solano Symphony Orchestra, the Garland Symphony Orchestra and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. Ascione has also done extensive studio work with the American Symphonic Winds and the Washington Winds.
Also prior to joining the Air Force, Chief Ascione additionally was selected as a winner of the National Flute Association's Piccolo Masterclass Competition resulting in a solo performance for the 1995 convention.
A 1996 graduate of the University of North Texas, Chief Ascione earned a Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance. She then continued her studies at Northwestern University under the tutelage of world-renowned flutist Walfrid Kujala, graduating with a Master of Music degree in 1997. Ascione has studied with renowned flutists such as Elizabeth Rowe, Laurie Sokoloff, Linda Lukas, Mary Karen Clardy, Terri Sundberg, Kathleen Chastain and Margaret Linnan Kegel.