Air Force band promises patriotic evening

The U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants perform patriotic tunes and marches starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 9, 2016 at the Sullivan Performing Arts Center's John Thomas Theatre.
The U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants perform patriotic tunes and marches starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 9, 2016 at the Sullivan Performing Arts Center's John Thomas Theatre.

Patriotic tunes and marches will fill the Sullivan Performing Arts Center's John Thomas Theatre when the U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants perform Saturday starting at 7 p.m.

Both the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants are part of the U.S. Air Force Band. The Concert Band is a symphonic wind ensemble, while the 20 members of the Singing Sergeants are considered the Air Force's official chorus.

Admission to the concert is free, but tickets are required.

Both Col. Larry Lang, who serves as commander and conductor for the U.S. Air Force Band, and Technical Sgt. Hannah Shirey, who's a mezzo soprano vocalist, hail from Texas. In addition to Texarkana, they'll perform in Ruston, La., on Sunday; Monroe, La., on Monday; and Marshall, Texas, on Tuesday.

"We're going to feature some marches and patriotic music," Lang said. Expect musical medleys and a little bit of something for everyone. Patriotic selections will hail from all the Armed Forces branches.

"We really want to honor those veterans and active duty members in your communities," Lang said.

Shirey, who grew up in Tomball, Texas, and attended East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, will be featured on a few songs. She couldn't be happier that the U.S. Air Force Band tour brings her back to Marshall, where many of her professors still live. She says she wouldn't be where she's at today without her ETBU experience.

"I wouldn't trade my experience at East Texas Baptist for anything," Shirey, who graduated there in 2010 before going on to get a degree at Southern Methodist University in 2012, said about the opportunities and inspiration she found in Marshall. For her it's a homecoming.

Shirey's extensive background with music education is common for many U.S. Air Force Band musicians, who have often achieved a master's degree, said the commander and conductor.

"People will find the whole program exciting and very inspiring," Lang said, noting they typically head out on the road to tour twice a year. They're excited to be back in an area that is home to many of the musicians.

"We love seeing friends and family as we tour across the country," Lang said. They're also proud to represent the U.S. Air Force.

They'll be doing so with a music program Lang calls "American Harmony." He always tries to theme the U.S. Air Force Band's programs around a particular subject, and in this instance all of the music comes from American composers. They'll be featured Saturday at the Sullivan.

You'll hear work by composers like John Philip Sousa and John Williams. Part of the program includes music from the American South, too-Lang describing it as music you might here at the Grand Ole Opry.

The U.S. Air Force Band features students from local schools at each tour stop they make. It's one way the band reaches out to the communities where they perform.

"We do that wherever we go. Every night we'll have students up on stage with us," Lang said, noting it's an honor to represent the Air Force. They get to do this every day at home with ceremonies at official functions in Washington, D.C., but it's great to get out on the road and connect with people, he said.

(Admission is free. Tickets are required. Pick up tickets at the Texarkana Independent School District Administrative Offices today at 4241 Summerhill Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. You can also call TISD at 903-794-3651, ext. 1013 or email [email protected]. The Sullivan Performing Arts Center is located at 3941 Summerhill Road.) 

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