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Band of Air Force Reserve gets Emmy nod for Holiday Notes From Home

  • Published
  • By Candice Allen
  • HQ AF Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga --  The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 2009 Holiday Notes From Home was nominated for a prestigious regional Emmy Award.

The Nashville/Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Science announced nominations for the 25th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards last month.

"I was very proud to know that the product we produce for our troops, families and employers is recognized by the music industry for the quality of production and performance." said Maj. Don Schofield, band commander. "It's a great honor to be nominated for the award and I'm thrilled to be part of such a monumental event for the Air Force.

Holiday Notes From Home is produced to send a touch of home to service members and their families serving abroad during the holiday season. American Forces Network broadcasts the production to 177 countries and all the ships at sea, which reaches 1.1 million service members and their families.

Celebrities accompanying the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve on the 2009 Emmy-nominated production were Amy Grant, Take 6, and Brian McKnight.

"Amy, Take 6 and Brian made the rehearsal and performance atmosphere relaxed, yet focused," said the commander. "After watching the broadcast recording of the 2009 Holiday Notes From Home, I'm thrilled that we were able to project that same relaxed and fun atmosphere to our audiences overseas."

The 25th MidSouth Emmy Awards will be telecast live on Jan. 29, 2011.

"Holiday Notes From Home is a powerful way to send a personal thanks from Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, and the men, women, families and employers of our Armed Forces," said Major Schofield. "Our focus has always been to meet the needs of the Reserve triad around the world."

Holiday Notes From Home began in 1993 under the title "Sounds of the Season." By 1996, Holiday Notes From Home was beginning to take shape. That year, the band recorded "Holidays at the Ryman" for Armed Forces Radio with Gary Morris, and Nashville's Christ Church Choir. The band adopted the "Holiday Notes From Home" title in 1998 with Crystal Gayle, Katie Haas, and the Christ Church Choir. Since then, the productions have evolved from radio broadcasts to the high quality video production that it is today. The band has combined with various artists including Sandi Patty, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Aaron Neville, Lonestar, Take 6, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Brian McKnight, and Gordon Goodwin.

The Band of the U.S. Air Force consists of 45 full-time professional musicians. The band travels in excess of 100,000 miles per year performing more than 400 concerts throughout U.S. and many overseas locations.