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Home > Fact Sheets > History of The United States Air Force Band: 1991-1995
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND: 1991-1995
Posted 4/13/2007
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Alan L. Bonner, USAF Band Commander & Conductor, 1991-1995
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Alan L. Bonner, Commander & Conductor, 1991-1995
Lieutenant Colonel Alan L. Bonner had been the vice commander of The Air Force Band near the mid-point in his career, and returned on March 1, 1991, to serve as the Band's seventh commander and conductor. Lieutenant Colonel Bonner previously commanded the Strategic Air Command Band and took that group to Saudi Arabia during the Desert Shield/Desert Storm conflict. During his tenure as commander of The Air Force Band, Bonner organized and presided over such important events as the Band's 50th Anniversary celebration, the premiere of Ron Nelson's award-winning composition Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) at the Cincinnati Conservatory, and the initiation of the Young Artist Competition in 1993.
Lieutenant Colonel Bonner was also an active participant in the Foreign Bandleader Exchange Program, fulfilling guest conductor engagements with bands in Australia and Eastern Europe. Under his direction, the Band instituted the Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel Award in 1993. The following year, the Sammy Nestico Award was inaugurated.
In 1994, Bonner recreated the Glenn Miller AAF Orchestra of 1943-1945, comprised of members from of The Air Force Strings, Airmen of Note, Singing Sergeants and Concert Band for several concerts commemorating the 50th anniversary of World War II. He took the Band on numerous tours and conducted the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants on several recordings, including A Fresh Air Force Christmas, Our Martial Heritage, The Wall and The Last Full Measure of Devotion.
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