The Air National Guard Band of the Mid-Atlantic will appear in a free public concert June 29 at the Mishler Theatre, Altoona, as part of its summer tour, the Blair County Arts Foundation announced.
The band will play patriotic, classical, swing, show tunes and other selections.
The band's selections include Ralph Vaughan Williams' energetic "Toccata Marziale," excerpts from Lerner and Loewe's timeless "My Fair Lady," and the imaginative "Second Suite in F" by Gustav Holst.
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The Air National Guard Band of the Mid-Atlantic will play a variety of selections June 29 at the Mishler Theatre.
Vocalist Airman 1st Class Clayton Lee will pay homage to the King of Rock and Roll with a medley of Elvis Presley songs arranged by Master Sgt. Andrew Callo.
Tech. Sgt. Clay Sattazahn will be featured in the time-honored trombone solo "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You," arranged by Dave DePalma. Various soloists also will be showcased throughout the program.
BCAF Executive Director Kate Shaffer said the concert comes at the perfect time, days before the Fourth of July, and the band has not performed at the Mishler before.
She added that the show has something in it to please every listener, including a toe-tapping march or two.
"What concert would be complete without a rollicking march by American bandmaster John Phillip Sousa," said Shaffer, "particularly appropriate for the Mishler as Sousa appeared on stage at the theater with the Altoona High School Band in 1922."
She added that the BCAF archives has a photo of Sousa at the Mishler Theatre during that visit.
The Woodwind Quintet "In Flight" and Popular Music Ensemble "High Altitude" also will be featured during the performance. The final portion of the program begins with a musical tribute honoring America's servicemen and women. The program will conclude with patriotic favorites.
The Air National Guard Band of the Mid-Atlantic was originally formed in 1942 in Rapid City, S.D., as the 53rd Army Air Forces Band. Federal recognition was extended to the band in 1949.
The band has experienced numerous name changes and reassignments over the years, more recently as the 553rd Air Force Band, Pennsylvania Air National Guard. In 2000, the band became known by its current name, reflecting its expanded geographic area of responsibility. The Band of the Mid-Atlantic is based at Fort Indiantown Gap as part of the Regional Support Group to the 193rd Special Operations Wing stationed in Middletown.
A traditional Air National Guard squadron, the band consists of 36 members, all National Guard members with civilian careers who meet one weekend a month to rehearse and perform. Its ranks are filled with professional musicians, educators, students, administrators, salesmen, builders and other professionals.
The band has received many awards, including the Air Force Outstanding Unit award and the Pennsylvania Governor's Unit Citation. Its annual concert tours have taken it to Germany, Holland, France, the Azores, Antigua-West Indies, Norway, England, Denmark and throughout the United States.
