U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West to perform in Carson City

As part of its community outreach, the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Carson City Community Center.

"This is a big part of our job," said Sgt. Lindsey M. Bartlett, operations representative. "We do many things, obviously in support of military functions at all the bases and of military personnel. It's part of the public affairs of the Air Force."

Bartlett said the 60-piece concert band will perform in Carson City. All musicians are enlisted in the Air Force, with the only officer being the commander, who is also conductor, Capt. R. Michael Minch.

Each Air Force band has assigned areas; this group tours five Western states, and is based at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif.

The concert band is the group's largest ensemble and includes brass, percussion, keyboard, string bass, woodwinds and three vocalists - Staff Sgt. Miko Ellison, A1C Rachel Trimble and A1C Ann Pamela Kelley.

"The concert band will normally do six concerts a year," Bartlett said. "We also have a rock band, and any combination you can get from a concert band, we have."

Bartlett said they also support the Coast Guard and Army.

"We go out almost every month and spread the Air Force message and show the community the excellence of the Air Force and that we're out there working. We also communicate through music, and these free concerts are a way to thank the community for their support."

After performing in Carson City, the band will perform a show of support for the Department of Defense SAE Maintenance Symposium in Reno, and go to public schools to give clinics for their music programs.

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

If you go

WHAT: United States Air Force Band of the Golden West performs a free concert

WHEN: 7 p.m. Oct. 20

WHERE: Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

CALL: 882-1565