Senior Airman (SrA) Patrick Lenz is assigned to the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Band at Langley Air Force Base, VA where he serves as the unit’s Composer and Arranger. SrA Lenz, from Eastman, Wisconsin, holds a Master’s degree in Composition from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University (Summa Cum Laude), as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Composition from Baylor University (Summa Cum Laude). He has studied with Dr. Scott McAllister, Dr. Shih-Hui Chen, Dr. Anthony Brandt, Dr. P. Q. Phan, and Dr. Don Freund, as well as Dr. Eric Wilson, Dr. Michael Jacobson and Mr. Alex Parker.
Prior to enlisting in 2021, SrA Lenz was pursuing Doctor of Music in Composition at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he held the position of Associate Instructor in the Composition Department. SrA Lenz has received commissions from the Houston Symphony and the USAF Band of the Golden West, and his original composition for Wind Ensemble titled Pillar of Fire was named the winner of the 2019 Charles B. Olson Composition Contest, the 2018 Red Note New Music Composition Contest, and the 2016 Baylor University Composition Contest, and received Honorable Mention in the 2018 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards.
SrA Lenz has crafted over 120 musical compositions and arrangements for the USAF Heritage of America Band, supporting hundreds of performances and enabling the unit to perform at their best.
EDUCATION
2017, Bachelor of Music, Composition, Baylor University
2019, Master of Music, Composition, Rice University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. US Air Forces Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustice, Virginia (2021 – present)
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
AF Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 Musician of the 1st Quarter, USAF Heritage of America Band
2023 Airman of the 3rd Quarter, USAF Heritage of America Band
2023 Airman of the 3rd Quarter, Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs
2023 3rd Quarter Strive for Five Award, Langely Club 5/6
2023 Airman of the Year, USAF Heritage of America Band
2023 Airman of the Year, Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class, 9 December 2021
Senior Airman, 19 February 2024
(current as of January 2025)