The Golden West Winds, part of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West from Travis Air Force Base in California, will perform on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium on the campus of Walla Walla University.
The Golden West Winds is a woodwind ensemble consisting of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, and percussion. The group performs pieces from standard woodwind quintet repertoire to marches and patriotic music. The concert on Tuesday will include musical selections that span this range from Quintet for Winds, Op. 45 by Robert Muczynski to “Marche Des Parachutistes Belges” by Pierre Leemans to “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa.
“We hope the audience will take away a renewed sense of patriotism and the knowledge that all airmen in the Air Force are taking care of business at home and abroad,” says A1C Candy Chang, flutist for the group.
Chang says, “Being a military musician is one of the most rewarding experiences. We have the honor and pleasure of representing airmen from all across the Air Force and telling the general public the amazing work they are doing every single day.”
The ensemble performs for a variety of musical events, including public concerts, military ceremonies, patriotic shows, retirements, and educational programs. “We tell the Air Force story through music and represent the excellence maintained by medical personnel, pilots, mechanics, and more,” she says.
The Golden West Winds are touring through Eastern Washington and Idaho with additional performances scheduled at Eastern Washington University, University of Idaho, the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Spokane, and Fairchild Air Force Base.
Members of the ensemble are A1C Candy Chang, flute; SSG Natalie Wren, oboe (a special guest from the West Point Band); SrA Dan Shifren, bassoon; SrA Alaina Shaw, clarinet; A1C Emily Hoffner, horn; and TSgt Andy Tucker, percussion.
The performance is free and open to the public. The WWU Fine Arts Center is located at 200 S. College Ave., College Place.
Posted Sept. 19, 2017
