Air Force Band performs at Disneyland

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
LOS ANGELES (AFNS) --  Visitors to the world-famous Disneyland Resort are excited to see characters like Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck, but on Nov. 17 these same people were also able to see and hear a concert by the Air Force Band of the Golden West.

Based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the band performed a free concert inside the theme park as part of Air Force Week Los Angeles, a week-long event designed to inform the local population of the service's capabilities and missions.

For the band members, the concert was seen as both an awesome experience and a unique opportunity.

"We are basically musical ambassadors," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Craig, who plays the clarinet in the band. "We're able to come out here and give some entertainment to people and tell them the Air Force story at the same time." 

Plus, there's definitely a "cool factor" to playing at the famous resort, he said.

"It's definitely a different mission playing at Disneyland," said Tech. Sgt. Neil Griffin, a Reserve saxophonist who was augmenting the band from Moffut Field in Santa Clara. "But it'll sure make a great story to tell."

The band performed music made famous by Air Force veteran and five-time Academy Award winning film composer John Williams. The crowd heard the band play selections from several of Williams' most popular movie scores, while the band's vocalists sang along.

At the conclusion of the concert, members of the band's marching section took part in a retreat ceremony at Disneyland's Town Square.

"It was awesome," said Patty Nichols, a spectator who was visiting Disneyland from Denver. "We, me and my husband, didn't even know the band was going to be here, so it was a pleasant surprise. It was really special."

The concert was also special for the band's newly assigned commander, Maj. Keith Bland, who made his debut as the band's conductor in Los Angeles during Air Force Week.

"It's been an tremendous experience," he said. "And one I won't easily forget."

The band performed at the week's opening ceremonies, played a free concert at the Warner Grand Theater Nov. 16 and will be playing at various other events throughout the remainder of Air Force Week Los Angeles.

The Air Force Band of the Golden West is the only active duty Air Force band west of the Rockies and is responsible for providing musical entertainment at events in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California. Members have performed for gubernatorial inaugurations and presidential visits.

For more information about Air Force Week Los Angeles, visit www.airforceweek.com.

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