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Conductor emeritus to lead 300 musicians at AF memorial

  • Published
  • By Benjamin Newell
  • AFDW Public Affairs
AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON --  For Conductor Emeritus of The U.S. Air Force Band Col. Arnald D. Gabriel, a June 20 concert at The Air Force Memorial will tie together several aspects of his life and career which have shaped the nation.

Colonel Gabriel, who retired from the Air Force in 1985, will lead a band of 325 musicians commemorating the life and works of John Phillip Sousa and the allied WWII victory in 1945. The concert falls between the opening of the D-Day campaign, June 6, and Victory in Japan day, August 14.

Concert bands from as far away as California, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, and Wisconsin will be performing Sousa's compositions outdoors under the soaring spires of the Air Force Memorial.

"This is a remarkable venue acoustically," said Colonel Gabriel. "The hard surface, in conjunction with the wide spires, makes this an ideal outdoor concert location. Parking at the memorial is also easy, so I hope to see a lot of attendants out to witness this grand massed band."

The concert theme holds special import for Colonel Gabriel. A combat machine gunner with the United States Army's famed 29th Infantry Division in Europe during WWII, he received the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the French Croix de Guerre.

Colonel Gabriel retired from the United States Air Force in 1985 following a 36 year military career. At his retirement, he was awarded his third Legion of Merit for service to the United States Air Force and to music education throughout the country. Later, he was named the first "conductor emeritus" of The U.S. Air Force Band at a special concert held in Washington, D.C., following 20 years as the driving force behind the Air Force's premier band.

Today, Colonel Gabriel collaborates with musicians throughout the country and returns to The U.S. Air Force Band on occasion to conduct albums and concerts.