USAFE Band Entertains in Poland

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ruth Holcomb
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The U.S. Air Forces in Europe's Five Star Brass Quintet and Winds Aloft Woodwind Quintet visited Poland April 18 to 25, and performed six concerts during their tour.

The Five Star Brass Quintet consists of two trumpeters, Staff Sgt. Amy Moran and Staff Sgt. Brenna Dooley; a trombone player, Staff Sgt. Thad Reatherford; horn player, Staff Sgt. Clay Toms; tuba player, Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Remeley; and percussionist, Tech. Sgt. Jim Bartelt.

The Winds Aloft Woodwind Quintet consists of Staff Sgt. Julia Hinderliter on flute, Senior Airman Whitney Isbell on oboe, Senior Airman Lindsay Zufall on clarinet, Staff Sgt. Jesse Schartz on bassoon, and Tech. Sgt. Steve Schaughncey on horn.

The quintets performed a variety of classical chamber music from the last 200-year period, with the on encore piece Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen rewritten in a classical chamber style.

"The Polish people are very supportive to the arts," said Airman Isbell. "They were really glad to have American musicians come and play for their country."

The quintets' goal was to strengthen bonds with the host countries and new alliances through the gift of music.

"I was surprised at how far Poland has come and how well they are doing economically," said Airman Isbell. "It truly is a beautiful country."