Staff Sergeant Colby Parker is a tuba player in the United States Air Force (USAF) Band of the Pacific, Yokota Air Base, Japan, where he performs with and serves as the Noncommissioned Officer In Charge of Pacific Brass.
After enlisting in October of 2018, SSgt Parker's first assignment was with the USAF Academy Band at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, where he served as Publicity Clerk and performed with several ensembles as a tubist. Prior to his current position, the SSgt was the Music Director for Heritage Brass with the USAF Heritage of America Band at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
Before joining the military, SSgt Parker earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, where he studied with Mike Roylance of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. During his undergraduate work he performed with a host of ensembles, including the Boston Civic Symphony and the New England Philharmonic. He also holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, which he earned while serving as one of the brass department’s Graduate Assistants and studying with Warren Deck and Kathy Brantigan. Over his career he has received additional instruction from teachers including Daniel Perantoni, Ronald Bishop, Floyd Cooley, Gene Pokorny, Sergio Carolino, Carol Jantsch, Toby Oft, James Markey, Norman Bolter, and Robert Tucci, and has been recognized as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He has also attended a wide variety of summer music festivals including the Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and the Tanglewood Music Center, and performed regularly with the Denver Brass, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and Denver Brass Quintet during his time as a freelance teacher and performer in Colorado's Front Range.
EDUCATION
2015 Bachelor of Music, New England Conservatory, Boston, Mass.
2017 Master of Music, University of Denver, Denver, Colo.
2018 Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
2025 Airman Leadership School, Yokota Air Base, Japan
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2018 - December 2018, Trainee, 323rd Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. December 2018 - January 2021, Regional Band Tuba, Air Force Academy Band, Peterson AFB, Colo.
3. February 2021 - July 2022, Regional Band Tuba, Heritage of America Band, Langley AFB, Virg.
4. July 2022 - Current, Regional Band Tuba, USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class December 17, 2018
Senior Airman February 17, 2021
Staff Sergeant November 1, 2024
(Current as of May 2025)