United States Air Force Mid-America Woodwind Quintet
Mackinac Island welcomes the Mid-America Woodwind Quintet for two concerts on the Island August 10-11, 2008.


Sunday, August 10
3pm, Historic Mission Church

Monday, August 11
3pm, Windermere Point

This dynamic performing ensemble's library include works from renaissance to contemporary styles, popular marches and patriotic crowd pleasers.

The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America is the principal musical ambassador of Headquarters Air Mobility Command. The roots of the Band of Mid-America reach back to 1942 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. After several moves, the band relocated to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, in 1944. Initially it represented the Military Air Transport Service, then the Military Airlift Command, and now proudly represents Air Mobility Command. The squadron’s mission is to uniquely support the Air Force with world-class musical products and services that promote and support troop morale, recruiting, community relations, and the preservation of our national heritage.

This diverse group of musicians has a heritage of performing many styles of music for people from all walks of life. The Band of Mid-America is often called upon to provide musical support for visiting dignitaries, and has had the distinction of performing for Pope John Paul II, Queen of the Netherlands, President William Clinton, Vice-President Albert Gore, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Air Force, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Air Force Chief of Staff, Chiefs of Staff of our sister services, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, and General (retired) Colin Powell. The band performs community relations and recruiting concerts for audiences throughout the Midwest, playing more than 400 engagements each year. In its worldwide travels, the band has performed in the Azores, Costa Rica, Barbados, Grenada, Guatemala, Venezuela, Bolivia, Germany and the Netherlands. Each year, band members perform before more than one million people in person, and for millions more on television and radio broadcasts.

Today’s Band of Mid-America is comprised of 60 full-time musicians. All members may perform together for special concerts, parades, and other events, or they may be subdivided into several smaller autonomous units and performing groups to satisfy local, major command, and regional needs. For added flexibility, the Band of Mid-America can utilize various vocal ensembles, protocol combos and individual musicians.
Concert Band programs are drawn from established