An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
HomeMultimediaNewsArticle Display

Airmen Musicians break the mold with Contemporary Music concert

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Marc Dinitz
Washington, D.C. --  The United States Air Force Band will be stretching musical boundaries as it presents an evening of contemporary works at The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington on Thursday, May 15 at 8 p.m. This concert, part of the Band's Chamber Players Series, will feature four works with various instrumentations, and promises to be a musical departure from the regular public appearances of the band.

"Trio for String Bass, Percussion and Flute" by Herbert Brün, will feature bassist, Senior Master Sgt. Chris Kosky, percussionist, Senior Master Sgt. Erica Montgomery, and flutist, Senior Master Sgt. Stacy Ascione. The piece, presented in three short movements, is a study in extended (or unusual) techniques on the three instruments. "This work is a musical conversation between all of us," says Montgomery, "in that the sounds we are making on our instruments interact with each other throughout."

It is not often an audience has the opportunity to hear sole bass clarinet perform, but on this concert two of these large instruments will be featured in Marc Mellits's "Black," a bass clarinet duet. This piece, featuring Technical Sgt. Benjamin Bowers and Technical Sgt. Sara Wollmacher, is a minimalistic "continuous wall of sound," according to Bowers. Fans of the low register will be rewarded in this performance, as the entire work lies exclusively within the bottom third register of both instruments.

The two larger works on the program, both conducted by 1st Lt. Shanti Nolan, are concertos, featuring chamber orchestra and a few special guests. Lucie Robert-Diessel's "Dialogue Symphonique," written for saxophone solo and chamber orchestra, will feature Master Sgt. Jeremy Koch. This diverse work challenges both the soloist and the ensemble technically and rhythmically. Based on the opening motives, this neo-romantic symphonic piece exponentially grows with intensity for 18 minutes.

"Gnarly Buttons," by celebrated composer John Adams, will feature clarinet soloist Technical Sgt. Kristin Bowers with a chamber ensemble. This piece, which combines acoustic and electronic elements, includes selected winds and strings in addition to two keyboardists, banjo, mandolin and guitar. The electronic and synthesized sounds blend with the live music making to produce this unique work, which will be performed by musicians from The U.S. Air Force Band for the first time.

One of the most unique aspects of this evening will be the collaboration of musicians from four different performing ensembles within The United States Air Force Band, as members of the Concert Band, Air Force Strings, Singing Sergeants and Airmen of Note will be featured. "It isn't often that our different performing schedules can accommodate this type of program," says Nolan, "but in this case we are happy that we can make this special performance work."

Be sure to check our 'Events Calendar' for all of our upcoming Chamber Series performances, as well as our Summer Concert Series, beginning on May 30, at 8 p.m. at the U.S. Air Force Memorial.