The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West conquers Moapa Valley in a concert at the MVHS Gymnasium on Monday, April 18. Photo by Catherine Ellerton

By Catherine Ellerton
Moapa Valley Progress

Mr. Polzien, Alexis Cooper and Calvin McMurray you did us proud!

It was Monday night, April 18, and the MV Performing Arts Council had pulled out all stops. The organization was sponsoring the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West in a free concert at the MVHS Gymnasium.

This is a military maneuver like none other. Some of the weapons of choice to sway the masses were horns, clarinets, drums, cymbals, saxophones, bassoons, flutes, euphoniums and tubas.

From the swelling notes of the National Anthem, to the Presentation of the Colors by American Legion Post #75 of Logandale, this Concert Band had the audience in their hands.

These folks are part of the Air Mobility Command which flies one mission every 90 seconds. Their headquarters is at Travis Air Force Base in California and they tour this area on behalf of Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

They began the concert with the Overture to “La Forza Del Destino” by Verdi and went on to introduce one of the first pieces written for a Concert Band in the early 1900s – “Second Suite in F” by Holst.

Exceptional singers and instrumental soloists highlighted several of the numbers. MSgt Amy Lukens-Malone brought Gershwin to life in “Anything Goes” and “But Not For Me.” The rich baritone of SSgt Geoff Fisher was featured in another Gershwin song “Can’t Take That Away.”

There were trumpet and tuba solos that were over the top. When the band broke into the stirring “Eagle Squadron” by Alford, our very own MVHS Band teacher, Mr. Polzien was at the podium. Not to be outdone, two MVHS band students, Alexis Cooper on the flute and Calvin McMurray on the horn joined the band in a swinging number by Huffine – “Them Basses.”

The band offers an opportunity to each community they visit for school musicians to join them in their performance. Alexis, Calvin and Mr. Polzien took that challenge. Once accepted, they received the music about three weeks before the concert. Unable to rehearse with the band before the concert, they went in cold. And, like I said, they did us proud!

The US Air Force Bands are some of the best bands in the land. Per one of the conductors, 1st Lieutenant Haley Armstrong, there are 12 Air Force Bands. The musicians move between the bands staying perhaps 3 years or more in a particular assignment.

As the evening drew to a close, the traditional and popular acknowledging of all branches of the military in music was enthusiastically and warmly appreciated by the audience.