Airman First Class Graydon Howard is a bassoonist with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA. He also serves as an audio-visual tech on the video production team. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, his Air Force career began in 2025.
Airman Howard is a 2022 graduate of Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, IN, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Music in bassoon performance. In 2024, he earned his Master of Music in bassoon performance from Lynn Conservatory, Boca Raton, FL. His teachers include Whitney Crockett, Michael Finn, Kathleen McLean, William Ludwig, Norbert Nielubowski, and Trent Jacobs. Prior to his Air Force career, Airman Howard was an active freelance musician and teacher.
Airman Howard has performed with a variety of ensembles prior to his Air Force career, including the Terre Haute Symphony, Bloomington Chamber Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Naples Opera, as a featured soloist with the Lynn Conservatory Philharmonia, with the Panacea Reed Quintet in the Fischoff Competition Senior Wind Quarterfinal, and the Sacred Music at Notre Dame Festival Orchestra.
EDUCATION
2022 – Bachelor of Music, Bassoon Performance, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2024 – Master of Music, Bassoon Performance, Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL
2026 – Graduate, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX
ASSIGNMENTS
January 2026 – Present, Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class – January 2026
(Current as of April 2026)