Staff Sergeant Candy Tasker

Staff Sergeant Candy Chang Tasker is a flutist and piccoloist with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA.  Originally from Kent, Washington, her Air Force career began in 2016.

SSgt Tasker is a 2016 graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Flute Performance and Arts Administration. She also pursued a minor in Historical Performance (baroque flute). Her teachers include Alexa Still, Michael Lynn, and Kathie Stewart.

As a military musician, SSgt Tasker performed at the 2017 U.S. Presidential Inauguration for President Trump and his family where she was featured as a soloist. She has also shared the stage with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and American a cappella group, Pentatonix. She has appeared on Classical King FM’s Northwest Focus Live, Spokane Public Radio’s From the Studio, ABC, ESPN, and FOX news.

SSgt Tasker has won numerous competitions including the Seattle Horsfall Competition, the Simon-Fiset Scholarship Woodwind Competition, Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside, and was a national finalist for the Music Teachers National Association Competition. She also took second place at the Alexander and Buono International Flute competition. SSgt Tasker has performed concertos with the Seattle Festival Orchestra, Stars-in-the-Classics International Orchestra, Academy Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin Mozart Players, USAF Band of the Golden West, and the Tacoma Concert Band. 

Passionate about new music, SSgt Tasker has premiered over 75 works by living composers. She performed regularly with Oberlin's Contemporary Music Ensemble through which she collaborated with four-time Grammy winner, eighth blackbird, and toured to the University of Richmond to perform at Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival.

An avid educator, she has served as flute faculty and coach at Marrowstone-in-the-City Summer Music, Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra, Oberlin Composition Workshop, and at Vivace Chamber Players. She has also taught masterclasses at the University of Arizona, University of Idaho, California State East Bay, College of Southern Nevada, Willamette University, and Corban University.

SSgt Tasker has spent summers performing at festivals, including the National Music Festival, Marrowstone Summer Music, Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, and ARIA International Academy.

May 2020 - Staff Sergeant