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Concert Band and Singing Sergeants return to the road after Sequestration

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jake McCray
Washington, D.C. --  After more than 12 months of being limited to performing for metropolitan Washington, D.C., audiences, the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants will finally take to the road again on their spring 2014 tour of the Midwest. The Band and Singers will travel through Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, performing concerts for audiences and presenting clinics and master classes to students in high school and college.

The spring tour of 2013 was cancelled last year due to the budgetary challenges of the sequestration. During that time, the Band was restricted to local performances only. This did not diminish our impact on the community, as the Band created the education outreach program AIM (Advancing Innovation through Music). Nor did it dampen their holiday spirit, as demonstrated in our inventive holiday concert series at local venues to include the Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space Museum, and the wildly successful holiday flash mob, viewed by more than 30 million internet users worldwide.
With the ban on stateside travel lifted in late 2013, the Band and Singers can now go out and do what they do best - perform, wow, and dazzle audiences both near and far. This tour's musical programs will feature traditional wind band music, clarinet and trumpet soloists, vocal opera selections and a debut of a new musical theatre medley featuring some of the latest hits from Broadway shows.
In addition to the Air Force members on stage, the Band frequently invites students to join them for a selection, usually consisting of a traditional march. Also, it is not uncommon to see a guest conductor, often from the hosting institution, frequently a college or university. This type of outreach is a wonderful way to integrate the community with the band on stage, and provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for both young players and conductors alike.

Along with the traditional tour concert setting, both instrumentalists and vocalists will provide clinics and master classes to high school and university students. The nature of these workshops changes based upon the size of the educational institution, what is requested, and which groups are available on any given day of the tour. The interactions range from one-on-one settings, to small groups, and even may include a band member or vocalist critiquing a large group of instrumentalists or a choir. The feedback of a working professional is vital to any budding musician, whether they're pursuing the activity simply for the enjoyment of music, or if they aspire to become a professional within the industry.

Often times, clinics and concerts will occur on the same day, making for a less than easy day on the job. When the Band and Singers return from tour they'll have a few days off to recover, and then it's right back to the grind with the Concert Band rehearsing for a recording, and the Singers will be preparing for multiple AIM events and the upcoming recording. Regardless, we are thrilled to have the chance to serve our country with our natural talents, and even more thrilled to be back on the road once again.

Please see below for the dates, times, and locations of the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants 2014 spring tour.



Concert Band & Singing Sergeants
Friday, April 4, 8 p.m
.
McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd
Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Saturday, April 5, 7 p.m.

Neuqua Valley High School
2360 95th Street
Naperville, Ill.

Sunday, April 6, 3 p.m

Northwestern University
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall
50 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, Ill.

Monday, April 7, 7 p.m.

Valparaiso University
Chapel of the Resurrection
1600 Chapel Drive
Valparaiso, Ind.

Tuesday, April 8, 7:30 p.m.

Monroe County Community College
La-Z-Boy Center
Meyer Theater
1555 S. Raisinville Rd
Monroe, Mich.

Wednesday, April 9, 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Michigan University
Pease Auditorium
W Cross St & College Pl
Ypsilanti, Mich.

Thursday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.

Eisenhower High School Performing Arts Center
6500 25 Mile Rd
Shelby Township, Mich.

Friday, April 11, 5 p.m.

Chamber Music Concert by Concert Band members

Michigan State University
Fairchild Theatre
MSU Auditorium
542 Auditorium Rd
East Lansing, Mich.

Friday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.

Singing Sergeants Concert

First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor
1432 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, Mich.

Saturday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.

Davison High School
Maxine Ude Auditorium
1250 North Oak Road
Davison, Mich.

Sunday, April 13, 3 p.m.

Michigan State University
Wharton Center for the Performing Arts
750 E Shaw Ln
East Lansing, Mich.

Ticket information can be found on our web calendar.