Shenandoah Conservatory presents a free community concert featuring The United States Air Force Airmen of Note at 8 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 3, in Armstrong Concert Hall.
As the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force, Airmen of Note is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The U.S. Air Force Band, which honors those who have served; inspires American citizens to heightened patriotism and service; and positively impacts the global community on behalf of the U.S.
Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Miller’s Army Air Corps dance band, the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist. The ensemble presents a range of big band and contemporary jazz repertoire in venues throughout the world, and performs as part of significant military and civilian ceremonies and diplomatic events.
Alan Baylock, Chief Arranger for Airmen of Note, graduated from Shenandoah University with a degree in Music Education in 1990 and currently serves as Jazz Composer-in-Residence at the Conservatory.
The Airmen of Note’s commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe, leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen. In 1990, the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series, featuring the “Note” in concert with legendary icons of jazz.
Each year, the series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio, independent jazz radio stations, satellite radio services and the Internet. In addition, the “Note” produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide each year through hundreds of media outlets. One of the group’s recent holiday recordings, “Cool Yule,” reached #2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart.
Shenandoah Conservatory presents Airmen of Note at 8 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 3, in Armstrong Concert Hall on the campus of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. Tickets are free and open to the public. Seating is limited and patrons are requested to secure their tickets in advance. Tickets and information are available at the Shenandoah University Box Office (540/665-4569). To read more about the Conservatory’s performance season, visit conservatoryperforms.org.
