LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- The Heritage of the Air Force Band’s newest ensemble can be described as unique.
The five Heritage Aire Celtic Ensemble members are the only musicians assigned to the Air Force band who are dedicated to Celtic music. They are the first Airmen authorized to wear the Billy Mitchell tartan since the Air Force pipe and drum corps in Washington, D.C., disbanded in 1964.
Their commander, Maj. Douglas Monroe said each performer is talented in his or her own right, whether playing classical pieces with the concert band, cranking out tunes in the rock band, or bringing a show to life with fast-paced, up-tempo Celtic songs.
“This group is very emotional about performances,” Major Monroe said. “They love being in the group and they bring those feelings every time they play.”
They have received accolades since their debut performance during the “Holidays, Past and Present” concert series in December 2004.
Hundreds of hours were spent listening to Celtic music, practicing individually and as a group. It was not until that first performance that they knew everything was coming together.
“We hoped we had the correct sound and feel,” said flutist Staff Sgt. Sherry Burt. “After that first performance we knew we had it nailed.”
Normally, these classically trained musicians play with the Heritage of America’s concert band. In 2004, Sergeant Burt and oboe player Master Sgt. David Boone pitched the idea of a Celtic ensemble to the band commander.
They could not have pitched the idea to a better person. Major Monroe grew up in Livonia, Mich., where his parents, both amateur pianists, listened to their native music of Scotland and Ireland.
“I’m three-quarters Irish-Scottish,” he said. “I loved the idea.”
Major Monroe said the Air Force band demonstrates the cultural diversity of America. Each of the band’s 12 ensembles represents a different genre. The Heritage Aire Celtic Ensemble is no different.
It represents those immigrants who came over from England, Ireland and Scotland to make a better life for themselves in America, according to Major Monroe. Bluegrass music has its roots in the Celtic style.
Celtic music is fun and lively, said Sergeant Burt. “The only thing more fun than listening to it is playing it.”
The group’s guitarist is moving to the rock band this spring. Luckily, another quality of the Celtic ensemble is its ability to adapt with the amount of musicians available.
“That is the cool thing about this group,” Sergeant Burt said. “In a woodwind quintet, you have five specific woodwind instruments. In our ensemble, we could have anywhere from three to seven musicians playing a range of instruments.”