USAFE Band plays six concerts in Poland

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

The concert series supported the USAFE international outreach program.

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. This was all done in between rehearsing for the tour.

The band's public affairs section produced programs and created posters for the concerts that were put up in the towns the band played in. The concerts were also advertised in the local media.

Maj. Matt Hnery, the band's commander and musical director, hoped the concerts helped to "foster a spirit of friendship between the Polish people and our band of traveling musicians through the emotional impact of music."

The concerts also allowed the band to represent not only the Air Force, but 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," said Master Sgt. Neill Herndon, noncommissioned officer in charge of public affairs.