Churchville-Chili grad Ashley Harrington Keeks among performers
The United States Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants will perform a free concert on Tuesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. The concert is part of their 10-day Spring Tour largely throughout New York State.
The U.S. Air Force Band uses the power of music to inspire audiences worldwide, create innovative products and programs, and represent Air Force excellence. This excellence is showcased in the technical prowess and virtuosity required to perform this tour’s musical repertoire. Selections range from classic wind band pieces such as William Schuman’s “Chester” to “A Night at the Opera” featuring the Singing Sergeants in crowd-pleasing arias.
The concert will also include exciting modern works like John Mackey’s “Antique Violences,” which will feature principal trumpet Technical Sgt. Micah Killion, who is pleased to serve as tour soloist.
“Preparing ‘Antique Violences’ has been an exciting challenge,” says Killion. “Although the solo requires me to play four different trumpets through demanding passages, the real difficulty is in being properly focused to make it through the piece night after night on a tour, making each show feel new and exciting. With such amazing colleagues making music with me, I’m thrilled to take the stage.”
One of the advantages of touring is the occasional opportunity to perform in the hometown of one of the Airmen musicians. Sharing their military service in these community relations concerts is a meaningful way to give back to the places they’re from. Soprano vocalist Technical Sgt. Ashley Keeks is from Churchville, attended Churchville-Chili High School and studied at the Eastman Community Music School from 2000 to 2006.
“It’s an honor to share our mission as military musicians with the community,” said Keeks. “What better place to do that than my hometown, performing on the beautiful Eastman Theatre stage.”
Having the opportunity to perform at renowned musical institutions during national tours is a delight for the Airmen. This visit will serve as a homecoming of sorts for several members. Technical Sgt. Blakely Carroll-Rosengaft, a trumpeter in the Concert Band, attended Eastman from 2004 to 2006 for her Master of Music degree.
“I am very excited to return to the Eastman School of Music as a member of the Air Force Band,” shared Carroll-Rosengaft. “It is a wonderful institution, and I have so much gratitude for my teachers who played a key role in helping me become the musician I am today.”
Other Eastman alumni in the Concert Band include percussionist Master Sgt. Adam Green (1994 to 1998), and clarinetists Technical Sgt. Brian Wahrlich (2002 to 2008) and Technical Sgt. Jeremy Klenke (2005 to 2007).
The performance at Kodak Hall will be unique, featuring collaborations with Eastman faculty members. Mark Davis Scatterday, Professor of Conducting and Ensembles at Eastman, will conduct the Concert Band in a performance of his work “La Salsa.” Following Scatterday, internationally-acclaimed percussionist and Eastman professor Michael Burritt, will rejoin the Concert Band after his recent performance in their Washington, D.C.-based Guest Artist Series. Burritt will perform the newly premiered “Pseudovector for Percussion and Wind Ensemble” by Eastman Assistant Professor of Music Theory Matthew Curlee.
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre is located at 433 East Main Street, Rochester. For free tickets call 585-274-3000 or go to eastmantheater.org. There are no reserved seats; first-come, first seated.
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