U.S. Air Force Band soars at The Centre

WELDON — The U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band didn’t fly into the new Halifax County Airport yesterday, they rode into town in a big blue Air Force bus. But judging by the reaction of the nearly full house at The Centre, the musicians soared throughout their two-hour performance.

Patrons knew they were in for something special once they walked into The Centre’s theater, which had all three center sections pulled out, filling the entire auditorium with seats, to the highest balconies in the rear. The stage was full and glowing with the 45 seats and instruments of the band.

Introductions were made by what The Centre’s Director Jason Stewart called “J.A.R.,” for Jason, Abby and Ronnie. “One can dance, one’s rich and the other is good looking,” Stewart said before introducing The Daily Herald Publisher Ronnie Bell, who thanked the other sponsors of the program, The Centre, at Halifax Community College, Dominion N.C. Power, First Citizens Bank and The United States Air Force.

With introductions over, Band Director and Unit Commander, Lt. Col. Douglas Monroe raised his arms and the 45-member band opened the show with “Aegean Festival Overture,” which began with a delicate piccolo playing solo. The melody was gradually picked up by more and more instruments before it crescendoed into full force, only to fall off to only one instrument playing again.

A single oboe was the next instrument to pick up the melody, with only a very soft drum adding accents. Once again the band added instrument after instrument until the hall was filled with sound that seemed to soar through the room.     

As the opening song came to an end, the audience replied with subdued applause, seeming a bit unsure of what to expect next. What they got was “Eagle Squadron,” a song written by Kenneth Alford to honor the American volunteer pilots who flew for England early in World War II. The song showcased the full force of the 45 member band and totally involved the audience in the show.

The band next showcased Staff Sgt. Jason Foster on a “Trombone Concerto” and finished out the first set with a six-piece medley called “Lincolnshire Posy,” before taking a short intermission.

During the intermission, Lake Gaston resident Tom House, who played trombone in the Far East Army Band during his army service, said he was really enjoying the show. “We did the same sort of show, so I’m enjoying seeing them play, this is fun.” Roanoke Rapids resident Diann Moore agreed saying, “You don’t get to hear this quality of music very often. It was close to perfection.”

After the intermission, the show became even more powerful, but also showcased a much lighter side of the band, opening with a piece from John Philip Sousa that was surprisingly non-militaristic.

A light-hearted “Sandpaper Ballet” followed, featuring three members rubbing sandpaper blocks together, which sounded like an old soft-shoe tap dance performance. Each of the three competed with one another doing solo shuffles as the band played behind them.

 The band next featured their clarinet section, who all donned strange looking hats for their special “Clarinet Candy.”

Finally one of the highlights of the night had to be vocalist Staff Sgt. Natalie Madison, who strolled onto the stage in a beautiful evening gown that contrasted perfectly with the crisp blue dress uniforms of the band. Madison performed a medley of songs from the movie “Dreamgirls,” which had one audience member standing and clapping long before the song ended.

Madison wasn’t finished though. The closing number for the evening was a song she wrote herself following the Katrina disaster in New Orleans. Madison composed the song herself and it was eventually transposed for the entire band and has become a regular part of the show. Madison would return later, once again dressed in her Air Force uniform.

As the show finale, the band performed a moving version of “America the Beautiful” as a special tribute to our armed forces serving in the Middle East. Audience members who had served in the U.S. military were asked to stand and the band played a medley of all the branches’ theme songs.

With the audience standing and fully involved, Madison returned to the microphone and sang a stirring rendition of “God Bless America,” which had many in the standing audience joining in. They remained in a standing ovation as the band stood and bowed.