HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve performed a concert May 18 for the Community Partnership for Homeless, a non-profit agency of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust.
The Homeless Assistance Center, located on property once belonging to Homestead Air Force Base, now assists the neediest of the community to regain jobs, families and lost hope.
Homestead Air Reserve Base’s 482nd Fighter Wing held the event to raise awareness about the base and to thank the agency for continually supporting the base.
Not accustomed to this type of entertainment, residents flocked to enjoy the afternoon show.
During the concert, the Brass Quintet, one of three ensembles in the band hailing from Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga., performed a repertoire spanning five centuries, including everything from Renaissance and Baroque music to jazz, popular music, marches and patriotic selections.
Daniel Vincent, agency executive director, said everyone was looking forward to hearing the band. Children wiggled and danced in their seats to tunes from James Brown and other well-known artists while the adults reminisced.
“This is wonderful." said Mr. Vincent. "I’m grateful to Col. Randy Falcon (482nd FW commander) of Homestead Air Reserve Base for bringing these guys out here. It means a lot to the residents for the band to take the time to share their talents and educate the children and entertain the families here.”
The band members also gave the audience a brief lesson in the various types of instruments used in this particular collection; they ranged from the piccolo, trumpet and French horn to the tuba.
“We tend to modify our shows to teach our audience a bit of what we use,” said Staff Sgt. Mike Andrew, a brass quintet band member and tuba player. “Audiences enjoy hearing the different sounds the individual instruments make. And you never know, there might be a future trumpet or tuba player in the crowd.”
All of the group’s members are dedicated to music education, sharing their enthusiasm and expertise in an education program presented to young audiences across America.
(Courtesy of AFRC News Service)