The United States Air Force Band - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

'The Singing Sergeants' is the official chorus of the United States Air Force. It was formed in 1945 from members of The United States Air Force Concert Band, but is now composed entirely of professional vocalists who have been appointed by audition. The Singing Sergeants have appeared before every chief executive of the United States since President Truman. The group has performed for functions at the White House, State Department, Supreme Court, Congressional, Department of Defense. The chorus tours the nation twice yearly with the Concert Band and has performed at the New York World's Fair, in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It has also been featured at national and regional gatherings of the American Choral Directors Association

American Choral Directors Association

The American Choral Directors Association , headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music...

and Music Educators National Conference

MENC: The National Association for Music Education

MENC: The National Association for Music Education is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education and as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States...

The 'Airmen of Note' is the jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force. Created in 1950 to carry on the tradition of Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band

Glenn Miller

Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...

, the Note adopted a more contemporary style under the direction of Sammy Nestico

Sammy Nestico

Samuel "Sammy" Louis Nestico is a prolific and well known composer and arranger of big band music...

. Beginning in the '70s, Senior Master Sgt. Mike Crotty, the Note's chief arranger for more than 25 years, helped elevate the band to the forefront of modern big band jazz. Today, Master Sgt. Alan Baylock, the Note's current chief arranger, maintains the band's commitment to driving innovation and respect for tradition. To augment its writing staff, the Airmen of Note has commissioned works by such arrangers as Bob Florence

Bob Florence

Bob Florence was an American jazz arranger and pianist. He began taking piano lessons at five and initially intended to be a concert pianist. However, on taking classes with Bob McDonald he changed direction toward jazz.At the beginning of his career Florence worked as a pianist and arranger with...

and Bob Mintzer

Bob Mintzer

Bob Mintzer is a jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader based in Los Angeles, California. Mintzer is a member of the jazz rock band the Yellowjackets.-With The Yellowjackets:*Greenhouse, 1991;*Live Wires, 1992;...

. Sammy Nestico and fellow Note alumnus Tommy Newsom

Tommy Newsom

Thomas Penn "Tommy" Newsom was a saxophone player in the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, for which he later became assistant director. Newsom was frequently the band's substitute director, whenever Doc Severinsen was away from the show or filling in for announcer Ed...

have each composed works for the group as well.

The 'Air Force Strings'Air Force Strings Webpage is composed of 22 musicians who perform in a variety of musical settings, including a strolling formation known as the Strolling Strings, a traditional string orchestra and combined with members of the Concert Band to form a small symphony orchestra. Its members appear regularly as soloists, and in duo, trio and string quartet ensembles, to present chamber concert performances, and provide entertainment and ambient music for official protocol functions. The Air Force Strings performs at the White House, at official dinners hosted by the secretaries of state and defense, on Capitol Hill for members of Congress, and at official diplomatic events hosted by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

The 'Ceremonial Brass'. Brass music has played an important role in public gatherings and ceremonies for hundreds of years and military leaders have often chosen brass bands to perform signals, alarms, and other outdoor ceremonial and concert music. The Ceremonial Brass continues this ancient tradition by providing musical support for state arrivals at the White House, full honor arrivals for foreign dignitaries at the Pentagon, retirements, changes of command, awards ceremonies, patriotic programs and funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. The group performs more than 300 ensemble and 300 solo performances per year. It represented the United States Air Force at the 50th anniversary of V.E. Day celebration in Moscow, as well as in military tattoo

Military tattoo

The original meaning of military tattoo is a military drum performance, but nowadays it sometimes means army displays more generally.It dates from the 17th century when the British Army was fighting in the Low Countries...

ceremonies in the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. Additionally, the Ceremonial Brass has made numerous appearances on radio and national television, including Fourth of July performances on NBC's Today Show.

'Max Impact' is a contemporary popular music ensemble consisting of four vocalists and supported by a five-piece rhythm section. The band fuses the elements of hip-hop, rock, pop, country and urban sounds and is influenced by artists such as Destiny's Child, Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera. Original Max Impact songs are also regularly featured as the band strives to build Airmen morale and pride in service. In addition to performances in the United States, Max Impact has deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Personnel

Commanders

Date	Name
1941–1944	Alf Heiberg
1944–1963	George S. Howard George S. Howard Colonel George S. Howard was commander and conductor of The United States Air Force Band between 1944 and 1963....
1963–1964	Harry H. Meuser
1964–1985	Arnald D. Gabriel
1985–1990	James M. Bankhead
1990–1991	Amy R. Mills
1991–1995	Alan R. Bonner
January - May 1995	Mark R. Peterson
May - September 1995	Keith R. Lance
1995–2002	Lowell E. Graham
2002–2009	Dennis M. Layendecker
2009–2010	Alan C. Sierichs
2010-today	A. Philip Waite

Personnel

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