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PACAF BAND TOURS AUSTRALIA

  • Published
  • By Major Matthew S. Henry
  • PACAF BAND
Australia, March 2008 --  Well, the USAF Band of the Pacific was on the road again!  Alaska Brass traveled "down under" to Brisbane and Sydney, Australia for one of our annual Commander's Outreach good will tours. What originally motivated this trip was an invitation to be a featured exhibition group at the Australian Band Nationals in Brisbane. This is an international brass band festival and we were honored to be asked to perform and have the opportunity to interact with our wonderful Aussie friends.

We arrived on 19 March, a bit bleary-eyed from the travel. We were enthusiastically greeted by our incredibly gracious host, Mr. Barry Thiess. After gathering our equipment, we loaded up and headed to Enoggera Barracks, our home for the next five days and also home to our partners for the Gala concert, The Australian Army Band of Brisbane. That evening we had a rehearsal with this marvelous group of military musicians to prepare for the combined number we'd planned for the Gala concert. Major Peter Thomas, commanding officer and conductor of the AUS Army Band and members of the band were warm hosts and we had a great opportunity to interact with our AUS counterparts that evening. 

The morning of 20 March came early as we were off to bring the good will of the US and the USAF to the people of the Queensland area. First off that morning was a concert for the Virginia State School students hosted by the schools fabulous music teacher, Ms. Kathryn McLennan. After our very well received concert and fun question and answer session, focusing mainly of life in Alaska and in the USAF, we had an opportunity to play with the school's band in a short rehearsal. It was a talented group of beginning band students (which included parents and grand-parents) and I believe a good time was had by all.

Later that morning, we performed at St Margaret's for the high school music students. During the Q & A session following this spirited performance by Alaska Brass the questions were more directed to the music and what it's like to be a professional musician in the military. Then we dashed off for our third set of performances of the day for the children, parents and staff at the Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital. It was incredibly rewarding to play for these children and the other folks in their lives to help raise their spirits and give them a brief and well earned respite. 

That evening we, along with many others associated with the band festival, were guests of the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman, at a reception at City Hall. It was a great chance to get to know our AUS friends.

21 March was a bit slower day in order to prepare for the Gala concert that night. The performance that evening was in a wonderful refurbished theater in City Hall. Alaska Brass and I joined forces with the AUS Army Band for the finale of the first half of the concert. Such a talented and willing group of musicians, it was my honor to have been the conductor for our combined piece. Our only regret was not having more time to interact with our new Aussie musician friends.

Alaska Brass brought the house down as they opened the second half of this Gala event! They played the gambit, from rock (yes, rock with a brass and percussion group!), rhythm and blues, and jazz, it was a resounding success. 

We were back to the races on 22 March, starting off the day early again by performing a concert before the parade of AUS brass bands participating in the band nationals. We featured the music from that of the great Major Glenn Miller, father of the modern USAF band to celebrate our 60th anniversary to a high energy and very well received originally arrangement by our own arranger, TSgt George Pierce, of "Waltzing Matilda" in a Jamaican Ska style (it was the only way Alaska Brass' music coordinator, SSgt William Harris found this traditional AUS folk song had NOT been arranged and we thought it'd be a way to personalize this musical gift the our AUS audiences). Young and old alike LOVED it!

Next we were off to Ipswich for a performance at the Riverlink Mall hosted by the Mayor, Paul Pisasale. This COMREL event was well planned and supported by the sponsors and was enjoyed but young and old alike. We were again able to tie in messages during the show, including the 60th anniversary of our AF. Mayor Pisasale sent a follow-up email thanking us again for our performance and stating that he looks forward to our next visit.

On Easter Sunday, 23 March, we were off to the Gold Coast for two more COMREL events. The first was at the Cavill Mall, on open air mall, filled to capacity. To conclude this days events, we performed at a reception hosted by the Australian-American Association. Both events, I believe, furthered US-AUS relations.

On 24 March, we traveled from Brisbane to Sydney for a couple of days of musical performances coordinated with the US Consul-General's PA office. On 25 March, we opened the day with performances at the Children's Hospital. They have an incredible program called the Starlight Room which provides entertainment to support and uplift these children as they face incredible adversity with spirit and grace beyond there years. One young man in particular, Adam, who due to a sudden viral infection of his spine was faced with quadriplegia was as much an inspiration to us as we were to him. A big fan of Spiderman and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, it was heartwarming to see him light up when Alaska Brass performed arrangements of some of his favorite movie music.

To conclude our whirlwind tour, we performed at a reception hosted by the US Consul-General, Mrs. Judith Fergin. To address the affects of our trip, I'll use her own words, "On behalf of all of us here at Consulate General Sydney and all your friends and audiences in Queensland and New South Wales, thank you and the USAF Band of the Pacific for the many wonderful performances you staged during your visit. The quality of the music was superb and the selection of pieces was inspired. Judging by the flood of appreciative comments, everyone at all your venues thought the concerts were a splendid treat. Thank you for helping deepen our friendships with Australians and strengthen the Alliance with Australia."

It was an incredibly rewarding and productive tour, which included 13 programs in 7 days for live audiences numbering nearly 10,000.

Cheers and G'day,

MATTHEW S. HENRY, Maj, USAF
Commander / Music Director
USAF Band of the Pacific