Solo Chair - Master Sgt. Matthew Irish Published Oct. 27, 2009 By Technical Sgt. Brooke Emery The USAF Band BOLLING AFB, D.C. -- A Few Minutes With . . . Master Sgt. Matthew Irish Baritone Vocalist, The Singing Sergeants Hometown: Dallas, TX Joined the Air Force: 2000 Education: Bachelor of Music - Hardin-Simmons University Master of Music - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary When did you start playing a musical instrument? I started piano lessons in kindergarten and continued through my teens, but that did not turn out to be my musical calling. I started singing at a very young age in church choir, probably even before I could read or write very well. My parents have a picture of me in a little cream-colored choir robe pointing to something in the distance while the rest of the choir members are dutifully singing in the background. My colleagues will surely agree that I have completely outgrown that sort of silly behavior! What did you do before joining the military? I taught voice lessons and gigged around Dallas for one year before enlisting. It taught me how fatiguing it is to teach individual lessons. Teaching privately takes lots of energy and patience--as well as good piano skills! What do you enjoy most about being in The Air Force Band? It sounds like a commercial, but I really believe that the best thing about being in The Air Force Band is performing for the people of America on behalf of those who serve with honor in the United States Air Force. What is the best thing about being in the military in general? It gives me a sense of purpose, that I'm doing something that is worth my time and energy. In the course of my career, I've learned that we not only represent our Air Force, but we also serve as spokespeople for our way of life in America--what a privilege! What do you plan to do when you leave the Air Force? I have considered continuing working in the military as a civilian, but I might move back to Texas and continue singing and conducting. With more than 10 years to go, I have a little time to figure it out. What is the highlight of your Air Force career? Just one? If I had to pick one, it would probably be singing in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol to honor former President Ronald Reagan. What do you do in your spare time? I sing in a men's ensemble called Brethren and conduct a chamber choir called the Potomac River Chorale. I have also taken up golf, which is going about as well today as my piano lessons did in kindergarten! What's on your iPod? Alison Krauss, the King's Singers, Chicago (the group), New York Voices, U2, Lyle Lovett, Polyphony (British choral group), and a choral group called the Singing Sergeants. Click here to read a short biography of Master Sgt. Matthew Irish. For biographical information about members of The U.S. Air Force Band, please see the Ensembles section of our website.