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Technical Sgt. Ben Polk joins the Airmen of Note

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Martin
Washington D.C. --  The U.S. Air Force Band would like to welcome Technical Sgt. Benjamin Polk, who is the new bass trombonist for the Airmen of Note. He is originally from Greenbush, Maine.

Polk earned his Graduate Artist Certificate in Music Performance from the University of North Texas (UNT) in 2008, a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota in 2004, and a Bachelor of Music from James Madison University in 2002. His former teachers include Jan Kagarice, Vern Kagarice, Tony Baker, Tom Ashworth, John Tranter, Andy Lankford and Jeannie Little. While at UNT, he was a teaching fellow and performed with the world-renowned One O'Clock Lab Band for three years, touring across the United States and performing at various jazz festivals throughout Europe. He can be heard on four compact discs with the One O'Clock Lab Band. He also performed and recorded with the North Texas Wind Symphony and was a founding member of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. Polk was the bass trombonist in the UNT Teaching Fellow Trombone Quartet in 2007 when they won the trombone quartet competitions at both the International Trombone Festival and the Eastern Trombone Workshop. In 2010, he was named winner of the Marjorie Strickland Young Emerging Artist Competition in the Young Adult Division with his performance of Eric Ewazen's Concerto for Bass Trombone. Polk is also an alumnus of the 2001 Disney Collegiate All-Star Band.

Prior to joining the Air Force, Polk served as an adjunct instructor of music at both Western Kentucky University and Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College. He also has freelanced in Nashville, Tenn. and performed with the Nashville Symphony, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra and the Duffy Jackson Big Band.

Polk's predecessor, Chief Master Sgt. Dudley Hinote finished his illustrious 25-year career as the bass trombonist with the Airmen of Note at a live recording session at XM/Sirius studios on May 16. Chief Hinote also served as the flight chief for the Airmen of Note since 2004. He has moved on to become the resource manager for The U.S. Air Force Band.

Technical Sergeant Polk has already fit quite well into the flight, carrying on the tradition of great bass trombonists in the Airmen of Note like Chief Hinote. "I'm extremely excited to join such a world-class organization, doing what I love, while serving in the United States Air Force," Polk said.