Previous Stories

USAFE Band plays six concerts in Poland

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kelley J. Stewart
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WROCLAW, Poland --  WROCLAW, Poland - Forty-one Air Force musicians from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band are playing six concerts Oct. 20-25 in Poland to celebrate and commemorate 90 years of Polish-American cooperation.

This concert series supports the commander's international outreach program in partnership with the U.S. State Department.

A lot of effort and planning went into moving these musicians and their equipment. The band's operations section had to arrange transportation, hotels, permits, and handle all the little details that come with moving a band and crossing borders. All of which was done in between rehearsing for the tour.

The band's public affairs section produced programs and created posters for the concerts. These posters were put up all over the towns the concert band will play in. The concerts also were advertised in the local media.

Advertising is important since the concerts are free to the general public, and give the Air Force a unique opportunity to enhance its friendship with the general Polish population.

Maj. Matt Henry, 43, the band's commander and musical director hopes these concerts help to "foster a spirit of friendship between the Polish people and our band of traveling musicians through the emotional impact of music."

And the band gives the Air Force the unique ability to put a personal face on the U.S. military as well as the United States as a whole.

"Through music, we can overcome language and age barriers and go straight to the emotional impact of the music," Master Sgt. Neill Herndon, 46, and NCO in charge of band public affairs, said.

The USAFE Band managed to do just that after its first concert at the Downbeat Filharmonia im. Witolda Lutoslawskiego here Oct. 20 for a crowd of almost 500 people who clapped and sang along with the music during the nearly two-hour performance.
Previous Story
Next Story