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Failure is not an option – an interview with Technical Sgt. Ben Polk

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Kevin Cerovich
Washington, D.C. --  Of all the members of the premier jazz band of the United States Air Force, Ben Polk has a story that stands out for diversity and tenacity. Three degrees, numerous career paths, and 22 auditions--Technical Sgt. Ben Polk has walked a long path on the way to becoming a member of the Airmen of Note. A native of Greenbush, Maine, Polk has played bass trombone for over 20 years.

His musical prowess can be heard anywhere the Note performs, and he is quite the sensation on social media. Several feature videos of Polk's monstrous sound on the Airmen of Note's Facebook page have garnered hundreds of thousands of views.

Polk's musical career was anything but certain as he began his education, however. "I went to college to become a doctor, but quickly realized that music was my passion. I switched to music education, and was on that path until I performed with the Disneyland Collegiate All-Star Band after my third year. At that point, I knew for sure that I wanted to be a professional musician," says Polk.

His tenacity shone through at this early stage, as it is somewhat risky to switch from the relative stability of medical studies to music. "It was great to be able to do what I loved to do and be paid for it. I switched to a music industry degree after that and went on to get a master's degree and a graduate artist certificate in performance."

When Polk was growing up, his father played trumpet in an Army National Guard band. "I was always around military music and it was something I really enjoyed. I began auditioning primarily for military bands in college. I loved the idea that I could serve my country by doing what I loved, and the stability of a military band job appealed to me greatly."

Polk adds, "I took 22 total auditions for full-time professional groups.  Of those, 17 were for premier military bands. My first audition was in 2003 for The U.S. Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass, and my last was for the Airmen of Note. Between 2003 and 2012, I auditioned for nearly all of the Washington, D.C. area premier bands, the Coast Guard Band, and the Naval Academy Band." Finally, in 2012, Polk finally landed the position he currently holds with the Airmen of Note.

Upon his arrival on station, the trombone section experienced a surge of vitality brought on by his masterful presence on his instrument. Despite being an exact fit for the job, Polk never set out to solely perform jazz. He explains, "Mainly, I was classically trained through all of my education. After graduating, I was a freelance, mostly classical, musician and then I spent a few years teaching adjunct at two colleges. Playing in a big band was always just a part of my musical interest so I wasn't sure how it would be to play only jazz."

Despite any initial misgivings, Polk thrives in his role. In addition, he periodically augments other flights in the Air Force Band. "It's great to work with other flights on different projects. Obviously, the Band's ceremonial mission is important, and I am humbled and honored to be able to contribute to that mission as well."

The Airmen of Note is certainly fortunate to have such a fine musician and seasoned professional as Polk among their ranks. The future looks very bright for Polk and the Airmen of Note!