Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Hilary Zirkle has been a clarinetist with the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Band since June of 2019. Originally from Boiling Springs, PA, SSgt Zirkle’s Air Force career began in 2015. During her Air Force career, she has performed as a soloist with the USAF Band of the Golden West Concert Band and the Walnut Creek Concert Band. SSgt Zirkle has performed as 2nd clarinet with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and 2nd clarinet with Symphony in C in Camden, NJ. She has also performed as principal clarinetist with the Solano Symphony Orchestra in Fairfield, CA.
SSgt Zirkle is a 2013 graduate of Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in music performance. In 2015 she received a Master's Degree in music performance from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. Her teachers include Ricardo Morales, Anthony McGill, Paul Demers, Kelly Burke, and Richard Klinedinst.
EDUCATION
2013 Bachelor of Music, Music Performance, The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
2015 Master of Music, Music Performance, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Airman Leadership School, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Oct 2015 - May 2019, USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA
2. May 2019 - present, USAF Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
AF Achievement Medal
AF Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
AF Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman 1st Class 13 Oct 2015
Senior Airman 13 Feb 2018
Staff Sergeant 01 Jan 2020
(Current as of March 2022)