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Airmen Musicians Awarded in 2013 Air Force Media Contest

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Matthew Murray
Washington, D.C. --  Three of The United States Air Force Band's Airmen Musicians recently won awards of musical distinction in the 2013 Air Force Media Contest.

The Air Force Media Contest is an annual competition in public affairs products, including journalism, social media, graphic art, video production, music, and others. It is designed to inspire and reward excellence and professionalism in Air Force Public Affairs.

The Band's 2013 award winners were Senior Master Sgt. Robert Thurston, Master Sgt. Emily Wellington and Technical Sgt. Matthew Geist.

Technical Sgt. Geist won first place in the category of "Outstanding Popular Song" for his original composition "Stand," which highlights the mission of the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

Geist's ensemble Max Impact, the premier rock band of The United States Air Force Band, recorded the song and produced a music video for it, which was officially debuted last fall at the Air Force Association's Air and Space Technology Conference.

"This video product is a result of two visions coming together as one, showcasing Air Force excellence," Geist said. "'Stand' provided a unique chance to feature the band alongside our sister squadron, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard."

The video is available to view or download via The U.S. Air Force Band's homepage www.usafband.af.mil

Coming in second place for the "Public Affairs Musician of the Year" was newly-promoted Master Sgt. Emily Wellington, an alto vocalist for the official chorus of The United States Air Force, the Singing Sergeants.

In addition to wowing audiences of hundreds of millions as a truly virtuosic vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Wellington's many impressive musical accomplishments for the year included: composing, recording and producing an original internet streaming project with the Singing Sergeants' folk ensemble, Celtic Aire; a fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Sandy which generated more than $10,000 in relief funds; a by-name solo request from the secretary of the Air Force for his retirement ceremony; multiple performances dazzling our number one customer, the president of the United States; and many, many more.

In the category of "Outstanding Large Instrumental Composition/Arrangement," Senior Master Sgt. Thurston, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Band's arranging staff, took second place for an arrangement of the classic songs "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Joy to the World."

Thurston's brilliant work was not only an exceptional achievement in arranging, but became an overnight sensation last holiday season when The U.S. Air Force Band, under the leadership of commander and conductor Col. Larry Lang, performed its first-ever holiday flash mob at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The now-infamous video, which reached 23.8 million television viewers, 2.6 million YouTube views and generated $637,000 in free public relations advertising, has now been heard and viewed globally by more than 30 million people, thanks in large part to the hard work and creativity of Thurston

These three Airmen musicians exemplify the excellence of the United States Air Force Band career field and all Airmen of the United States Air Force. Congratulations to them for their profound and impressive achievements!