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Ceremonial Brass conducts educational outreach clinic with Kissimmee students

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Adam M. Stump
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
KISSIMMEE, Fla. --  The U.S. Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass conducted an educational outreach clinic with students Jan. 18, 2012, at the Osceola County School for the Arts here.

The Air Force Band conducts the clinics to teach students the importance of life skills such as discipline, teamwork and perseverance, helping to preserving national heritage and inspire patriotism in the next generation of American leaders.

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Joe Jackson, a trombonist with the Ceremonial Brass and a Dallas, Texas, native, conducted a jazz clinic with approximately 70 high school students. The 20-year veteran said the high school students and the Air Force Band have commonalities.

"Just like our community of the Air Force, this group of students is dedicated to excellence," Jackson said, referring to the Air Force Core Value of Excellence in All We Do. "We are here to model the excellence on display by hundreds of thousands of Air Force Airmen every day. We hope we were able to demonstrate that excellence."

Jackson, who has conducted dozens of educational clinics over the course of his career, said working with young people is amazing because of their enthusiasm.

"It takes me back to when I was their age and reenergizes me," Jackson said.

Jacob Virkler, a senior flute and tenor saxophone player, said Jackson's clinic was eye opening.

"I learned a lot of new ideas for playing," Virkler said. "It was interesting to see when the overall ensemble is playing, they are having a conversation with the other instruments."

Maxwell Frost, a freshman percussionist who attended Jackson's clinic, said he enjoyed seeing the band in person after hearing stories from his father, who played trombone in an Air Force regional band.

"I've always been interested in joining the Air Force Band," Frost said. "It was pretty cool to see in person."

The U.S. Air Force Band's Brass Quintet, featuring a French hornist, trombonist, tubist and two trumpeters, also performed two clinics for 90 and 110 students. The clinic, led by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brett Miller, a French hornist and Boardman, Ohio, native, covered playing together as a group and the importance of teamwork.

Miguel Santos, a freshman tuba player who attended the quintet's clinic, said he was "literally speechless" listening to the advice the group along, which featured a portion of the quintet playing without one of the instruments to show how each one was important.

"It was cool to see how they blend the music together," Santos said.

Following the clinics, the Brass Quintet played a recital for approximately 1,000 students and faculty.

The Ceremonial Brass is on their first American concert tour. The band's theme of the winter tour is "American Song and Cinema." The tour features a new work commissioned by the band and dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen entitled "Red Tail Skirmish" by composer Bruce Yurko. "Red Tail Skirmish" is a musical epic that depicts the tension, thrill and excitement of an aerial dogfight through a fast-paced work for the brass and percussion ensemble.

The band's program also featured a Glenn Miller Medley entitled "Miller Time," arranged by former Ceremonial Brass member David Bandman, a retired master sergeant. The group also played a medley of works by film composer and former Air Force Band member John Williams entitled "Epic Themes."

This Ceremonial Brass is typically seen throughout the National Capital Region performing at more than 1,100 ceremonies each year, including large ensembles and buglers to perform in most outdoor ceremonial venues and the Ceremonial Brass Quintet for smaller indoor settings.

The origins of the Ceremonial Brass trace back to 1964 when The United States Air Force Headquarters Command Band was incorporated into The U.S. Air Force Band as a ceremonial unit. It became an all-brass and percussion ensemble in 1985 and was renamed The Ceremonial Brass.

Since those early years, it has evolved into an organization consisting of world-class brass players, percussionists and a drum major. The Ceremonial Brass represent all Airmen while standing on the tarmac for the arrival of heads of state; providing full-honors during state funerals; and, marching down Pennsylvania Avenue during presidential inaugural parades.