Air Force Band to perform in Hamilton

by John Dowd

Hamilton will host a performance by the U.S. Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants on Wednesday, Oct. 21, bringing one of the military’s premier musical ensembles to the Bitterroot Valley.

The free concert will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Hamilton High School gymnasium, located at 327 Fairgrounds Road. Those interested in attending can register using the QR code provided for the event or through the U.S. Air Force Band website.

This will be the first time an Air Force band has performed in Hamilton, although it is the second time a Washington, D.C. based military band has visited the city. The United States Army Field Band and Soldier Chorus performed in Hamilton in 2002.

According to Shawn Thacker, director of Hamilton bands, the Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants are among the top-performing bands within their respective military branches.

Each year, the bands establish specific regions to visit and reach out to schools about hosting performances. When Hamilton was contacted, Thacker said he immediately responded that the school would be happy to host the group.

The concert will feature patriotic marches and concert selections performed by both the band and the Singing Sergeants. “Their main hub is going to be Missoula,” Thacker said, explaining that the group will travel throughout western Montana, with stops including Kalispell, Butte and Bozeman. 

Thacker said audiences should expect a high-quality performance. “This could quite possibly be the best concert band experience people could see in this area, or even possibly in their lifetime,” he said. “These bands are very, very good.”

The visit will also give local students an opportunity to perform alongside the professional musicians. The Air Force Band provided Thacker with a list of about 35 students they could potentially partner with. Thacker then reached out to the six schools in the Bitterroot Valley and selected some of their top high school musicians to participate. The students will join the band during a performance of “God Bless America.”

Thacker said the outreach component is something military bands enjoy doing, and he understands firsthand the impact such an opportunity can have on young musicians. When he was a student, Thacker had the opportunity to perform with an Air Force outreach band in Missoula. “By then, I decided I wanted to be a music professor, so it makes you want to work harder,” he said.

Thacker said being selected to perform alongside the Air Force musicians is a significant honor for the local students.

The concert is expected to draw a large crowd. Bleacher seating will be available, along with seating on the gym floor for people who have difficulty using the bleachers. Handicap seating will also be available.

Visitors should enter through the west entrance of Hamilton High School. Because the concert is free, Thacker said people will not be turned away at the door if they arrive without registering.