Band performs winter concert tour

Published Jan. 20, 2010
By 1st Lt Candice Allen
Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve begins its 10-day annual winter concert tour Jan. 28.

"Every year the concert band tours different places in southern Georgia and Florida," said Maj. Don Schofield, Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve commander.

This year the band added three new cities - Statesboro and Jesup in Georgia and Gainesville, Fla.

"We picked these locations to create an ongoing, working relationship," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Cohen, tour coordinator. "All three venues present us an opportunity to establish a community partnership of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve with new audiences."

The concert band will perform 12 free shows. The performance locations include a performing arts center in Statesboro, Ga., and a school auditorium in Kissimmee, Fla.

"This is truly a community outreach," said Tech. Sgt. Ryan Miles, assistant director of operations for the band. "In addition to concerts, we go into classrooms and give lessons to the students. It's like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra coming to town and giving free one-on-one training. It's just that big."

The 43-piece concert band is the largest and most versatile unit of the Air Force Reserve band. The band plays a variety of tunes ranging from classical overtures through Sousa marches to Broadway show tunes, popular music, movie themes and patriotic favorites.

This year's tour includes performances in Statesboro, Ga., Jan. 28; Jesup, Ga., Jan. 29; Waycross, Ga., Jan. 30; Gainesville, Fla., Jan. 31; St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 1 and 2; Lakeland, Fla. Feb., 4; Palm Coast, Fla., Feb. 5 and 6; Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 7; and Melbourne, Fla., Feb. 8.

All concerts are free and open to the public.

People can become a fan of the Band of the United States Air Force Reserve on Facebook and Twitter at www.twitter.com/AFRCBand. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)