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Academy Band Dishes Up Culture in Pocatello, Idaho

  • Published
  • By MSgt Steven M. Przyzycki
  • The USAF Academy Band
STEPHENS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY --  Lieutenant Jason S. Plosch led your United States Air Force Academy Band in another performance for a packed house here tonight in Pocatello, Idaho. Concert patrons continue to relish the great variety being dished up on this tour that celebrates America's rich society comprised of many cultures. Technical Sergeant Emanuel Jester amazed the crowd again with true musical virtuosity, performing James Barnes' "Concerto for Tuba."

One of the first art forms to infuse diverse cultures was opera. It was born in Europe and although led by the French and Italians, it became popular throughout Europe. How fitting that Technical Sergeant Nancy Poffenbarger would perform two well known arias from the opera literature--"La Canzone De Doretta" from Giacomo Puccini's "La Rondine" and "Sempre Libera" from Guiseppe Verdi's "La Traviata." Concert patrons, many who were experiencing opera for the first time, were stunned. The energetic applause reflected TSgt Poffenbarger's voice which was described by concert patrons afterwards as "sweet, ethereal, beautiful and heavenly." The Band also featured students from local Century High School performing the "French National Defile March." Appearing with the band were Julia Bischoff, Tom Attebery, Kevin Tsai and Kyle Syndergaard. Technical Sergeant Nancy Poffenbarger also runs the Academy Band's Educational Outreach Program. "This is such a rewarding program for me. It offers a once in a lifetime experience for these students and for many, energizes them to be the best they can be in everything they set out to do," she said. This was also a special evening for eight young Idaho residents who enlisted in the US Air Force in a ceremony during the concert. The newest members of the USAF are Danielle Settles, William Dibler, Ian Peckham, Dushane Speelmon, Andre Shoaf, Austin dalley, Devin Sargent and Hayden Green. Each of the fine young men and women will be heading to San Antonio, TX over the next few months to begin Air Force Basic Training.

Following intermission, "The Dames of Broadway" featured Academy Band vocalists and instrumentalists in an exciting, choreographed performance of Broadway favorites from the 1940s to today. As always, patriotic numbers closed out the evening in a salute to our Veterans that made the sacrifices to preserve our rich culture and way of life in America. It was a grand celebration!