Air Force groups wow UM crowd> Band, singers offer up Sousa-to-Sinatra show

Some of my fondest memories of growing up in Washington, D.C., are of attending free concerts given by bands of the United States armed forces. The music always pleased my parents, especially my father, a Navy man. But it also amazed me because I was so smitten with the idea of serving one’s country by playing music.

When I heard that the University of Maine was sponsoring a local appearance by the U.S. Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants, the memories of those many concerts left no doubt that the event would be top-notch — filled with both good music and the ceremonial richness.

And, of course, it was. Yesterday afternoon, the local Air National Guard flew two large aircraft to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and picked up the members of the concert band and choral group, both of which performed for free to a grateful and patriotic crowd of nearly 900 last night at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono.

The first half of the concert included band pieces, including a march by John Philip Sousa, a “Carmen” medley by solo flutist Master Sgt. Lawrence D. Ink, and a Frank Sinatra sampler by Ol’ Blue Eyes sound-alike vocalist Master Sgt. David Nokes.

The most popular part of the program was undoubtedly the “Opera Live!” segment of well-known excerpts from operas — “The Magic Flute,” “Madama Butterfly,” “Rigoletto,” “William Tell” and “Aida,” to name a few. The singers did not stage the scenes, but they certainly infused them with spirit. Their voices were lovely and entertaining.

Before the final piece, “America the Beautiful,” associate conductor Lt. Scott A. Guidry introduced local audience members related to band members, as well as anyone affiliated with any branch of the armed services. Guidry said that the tour was a “chance to remind ourselves and you folks just how lucky we are. [America] is the greatest country in the world.”

He ended the concert with a medley of the signature songs from each branch of the armed forces, and invited members of those branches to stand during the respective songs. I thought about standing during “Anchors Aweigh” to honor my father, but decided that it was enough simply to remember that some people serve their country in song. And if you ever heard a U.S. armed forces group sing “America the Beautiful,” then you know just how powerful a song it can be.