USAFE Band's Wings of Dixie opens Echternach's Urban Jazz Festival Published Oct. 10, 2013 By MSgt Steven M. Przyzycki USAFE Band 10 October 2013 -- ECHTERNACH, LUXEMBOURG - Recently, your United States Air Forces in Europe Band's Wings of Dixie opened the International Jazz Days festival here playing for a crowd of about 1,000 people at the Cultural Center Trifolion. The two weeklong festival celebrated a variety of jazz styles, and attracted renowned acts from throughout Europe and the United States such as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans, and Ernie Hammes and the Luxembourg Jazz Orchestra. "Our opening theme was 'Urban Jazz Goes New Orleans,' and the Wings of Dixie were perfect at setting the tone. They sounded fantastic," stated Mr. Raymond Becker, event coordinator. "We really enjoyed our performance, and it was a real pleasure to interact with the Luxembourg people," said SSgt Matthew Ayala-Roman, Operations Representative and clarinetist for the group. "It is always great to play for an enthusiastic audience," said Wings of Dixie Music Director TSgt Saundra Sininger. "Talking to the audience members afterwards, made me realize what a strong vehicle music is at communicating and building partnerships. I especially enjoyed the fact that I was able to program a variety of traditional Dixieland favorites and try out some new selections as well." The festival was sponsored by the Embassy of the United States Luxembourg and the Echternach Tourist Office. "Artistic endeavors like these help to unite us all. There was a contagious sense of enthusiasm here tonight, and I am proud to have been a part of that," said MSgt Michele Harris, vocalist.