Capt Patrick Odjo, commander of the Music Squadron and Mobile Squadron for the National Gendarmerie in Benin, was a guest conductor for the U.S.Air Force Band as they played for bystanders on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building on July 24,2012 in Washington D.C. The band hosts this concert every Tuesday from June 5-August 28. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christina Brownlow)
Tourists and patrons clap after hearing opera from the U.S. Air Force band. The band performed on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building on July 24, 2012 in Washington D.C. This concert will be taking place every Tuesday from June 5 to August 28. The concert hosted Capt. Abiodoun Patrick Odjo, commander of the Music Squadron and Mobile Squadron for the National Gendarmerie Benin Armed Forces, who was a guest conductor. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
by Senior Master Sgt. Jenn Pagnard
U.S. Air Force Band
7/26/2012 - JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA - BOLLING, WASHINGTON, D.C. (AFNS) -- This week, the U.S. Air Force Band welcomed international guest conductor Capt. Abiodoun Patrick Odjo from the Republic of Benin.
Captain Odjo is the commander of the Music Squadron and Mobile Squadron for the National Gendarmerie in Benin. Prior to this position, he served as the commander of the Fourth Platoon, which supports security for the U.S. Ambassador's residence.
Odjo has been a member of the national gendarmerie since 1996. From 1999 to 2003, he attended noncommissioned officer training. Throughout his career, he has completed cadet training, as well as many other training courses including technical intervention and advanced gendarmerie training. Odjo was also involved in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Cote d'Ivoire in 2009.
He conducted the Concert Band in performances on Fri., July 20 at the Air Force Memorial, Mon., July 23 at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts in Bowie, Md., and Tues., July 24 on the west steps of the Capitol Building.
The theme for these concerts was "An International Celebration." The program featured works by Britten and Wagner, as well as selections from Benin conducted by Odjo. In the second half of the concert, the talents of the Singing Sergeants were highlighted in an opera medley.
Col. Larry Lang, the commander and conductor of the Band, spoke highly of this international collaboration. "This has been a very interesting and exciting exchange with Captain Odjo. It's also been a wonderful international relationship-building opportunity for the Air Force."
In August, The Air Force Band will host an international guest conductor from Ghana, Col. Sampson Paa-Kwesi Ebonyi who is the director of music and bands of the Ghana Armed Forces.
