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Tech. Sgt. Mandi Harper performs with The U.S. Air Force Band Singing Sergeants on Oct. 18 2011 at the Cheyenne Civic Center, Cheyenne, Wy., on the USAF Band's 2011 Fall Tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tabitha N. Haynes)
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The Singing Sergeants: Year One
Posted 8/3/2012 Updated 8/3/2012
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by Tech. Sgt. Mandi Harper
The U.S. Air Force Band
8/3/2012 - Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C. -- On August 1, 2011, I walked into the home of The U.S. Air Force Band, Historic Hangar 2 for the first time as an Airman. After six years studying music, three years auditioning for opera gigs, and so many odd jobs along the way, who would ever have guessed the United States Air Force is right where I'm supposed to be?
The moment a new Airman Musician walks into the band building, you are family. I don't mean you are greeted like family, but you actually ARE family. There isn't a person in the band who wouldn't step up in your time of need. We push each other to be the best musicians we can be, and encourage each other to excel in all we do. We practice, perform, work out, and hang out together. On the other hand, just like a real family, we spend way too much time together, push each other's buttons, and drive each other crazy!
One of the most significant and satisfying ways we serve our country is as International Musical Ambassadors. Before I performed my first "quarters" gig, I thought it was just singing for a high ranking official's dinner party. No big deal, right? I had the pleasure of singing for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey, and his Polish counterpart, General Mieczyslaw Cieniuch. Along with two other members of the Singing Sergeants, we sang pieces in English and Polish that we chose specially for this event. Much to my surprise, all the Polish citizens in the room started singing and clapping along! We received feedback after this event saying we had helped to strengthen U.S. relations with Poland. And I thought we were just the entertainment.
The highlight of my career so far was performing the National Anthem at the Military Bowl. My dad flew in from Arkansas just to see me sing, and I think he might have been more nervous than I was! We arrived at RFK Stadium a few hours before the game for sound check. Admittedly, I'm not a huge football fan, but standing down on that field was overwhelming. By game time, the temperature was a balmy 40˚F. Being new to the military, I didn't know all the uniform regulations, so I was frantically calling my fellow singers to find out how I could make my ceremonial uniform warmer. As it turns out, not much! I put on some gloves and tried not to shiver while I sang the anthem. 40,000 people cheered as the jets flew over, and then it was done. Final score: Toledo Rockets 42, Air Force Falcons 41.
In my first year as a Singing Sergeant, I've travelled across the country on a 25-day tour, performed more than 75 concerts for over 125,000 people, shared a stage at the Kennedy Center with the Beach Boys, performed for the Vice President in his home, hosted a guest conductor from Benin, sang the National Anthem at three professional sporting events, and so much more! I can't think of a more exciting or more gratifying job in music than this, and I'm looking forward to the adventures the next many years will hold!
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