Staff Sergeant Alena Zidlicky serves as a French horn player with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West and performs with Golden West Brass, Marching Band and the Concert Band.
A native of Oswego, Illinois, Sergeant Zidlicky is a graduate of Oswego High School and holds a Bachelor of Music Performance and Music Education degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Music degree in French horn performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, Texas. While in school, Sergeant Zidlicky performed with several professional ensembles including Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and San Antonio Symphony Orchestra. She was also an active freelancer playing in small ensembles and musical pit orchestras throughout the central Illinois and Texas regions. Sergeant Zidlicky has performed with San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Omaha Symphony Orchestra, Broadway pit orchestras, Mannheim Steamroller, and continues to actively freelance in local areas. Her most notable teachers include William VerMeulen, Kazimierz Machala, Jeff Nelsen, and Tod Bowermaster.
Sergeant Zidlicky enlisted in the Air Force October 2011. Her first assignment was with the USAF Heartland of America Band at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska where she performed with Brass in Blue, Vortex, Offutt Brass, Raptor, and Concert Band as both a horn player and vocalist. Sergeant Zidlicky was reassigned to the Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois in 2017 and performs with Roots in Blue as a vocalist and Airlifter Brass and Concert band as a hornist.
EDUCATION
2009 Bachelor of Music, French horn performance and Education, University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.
2011 Master of Music, French horn Performance, Rice University, Houston, Texas
2015 Airman Leadership School, Offutt AFB, Neb.
ASSIGNMENTS
January 2012 - March 2017, French horn, USAF Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.
March 2017 - December 2019, French horn, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Ill.
December 2019 - Present, French horn, USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
1. Air Force Achievement Medal
2. AF Good Conduct Medal
3. National Defense Service Medal
4. Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
5. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
6. Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
7. AF Longevity Service
8. USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
9. AF Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class November 1, 2011
Senior Airman March 1, 2014
Staff Sergeant September, 2018