Air Force band to land in Emporia

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By Joey Berlin

Originally published 02:23 p.m., February 26, 2008
Updated 02:23 p.m., February 26, 2008

Emporia will get another chance to see a renowned armed forces music ensemble March 9 when the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band’s concert band comes to Albert Taylor Hall.

The Gazette is co-sponsoring the band’s performance. Tickets to the 7 p.m. show are free and available with a visit to The Gazette or by mailing a self-addressed stamped envelope to: The Emporia Gazette, 517 Merchant St., Emporia, KS 66801. There is a limit of four tickets per person.

The 45-piece band is the Heartland of America Band’s largest ensemble and plays a wide range of styles, including classical, contemporary, country, jazz and rock. Its conductor is Capt. Michael Willen.

The band has made trips to Emporia several times in the past, the last coming about five years ago. For this performance ESU music professor Gary Ziek will appear as a guest conductor.

“We have a great relationship with Emporia State and especially Dr. Ziek,” said Tech Sgt. Jennifer Bales, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the band. “He’s a real special person to us. And of course, the hall there is fantastic. And any time we know we’re gonna go to Kansas, we want to play in Emporia, because it’s such a nice place to play.”

Bales said about five extra players would be used for this six-performance tour, which will also include a stop at Fort Hays State University. She said the band tries to play something for everyone. Its program for this tour includes the John Philip Sousa march called “Kansas Wildcats,” as well as a Frank Sinatra medley, a performance of the opera standard “O Sole Mio,” and a closing performance of “America the Beautiful.”

“If you got somebody sitting in the audience that doesn’t particularly like one piece, they just need to wait around, because they’re probably gonna like the next piece,” she said.

The Heartland of America Band is based at Offutt Air Force Base in Belleview, Nebraska. It breaks into various smaller ensembles that focus on playing different styles, such as jazz, brass music, rock and country.

In addition to its live performances, the band makes a number of radio and television appearances, and well-known artists such as Frank Mantooth, John Denver and Crystal Gayle have joined the band for guest performances.