Team Dover gets in tune at AMC Icon

by Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/17/2014 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- You're going to Hollywo... Scott Air Force Base! Well, sort of.

Eight Team Dover contestants took to the stage to show off their singing talents in the 2014 Air Mobility Command Icon competition; an event loosely based on the "American Idol" television show, July 16, 2014, at the Landings Club on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

Shannon Garcia, wife of Airman 1st Class Tyler Garcia, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, placed first with her performance of A Broken Wing by Martina McBride.

"It feels great; last year I competed and won," said Garcia. "So I just wanted to give it my best this year."

The competition is designed to showcase the vocal talents of the AMC communities. All 10 major AMC installations will host similar contests. The winner from each AMC installation will have a video submitted to the command finals at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The video includes their performance, an interview and footage of the winner on the job.

The contest was open to all Team Dover personnel, including, Reservists, Air National Guard, retirees, and dependents. But only the top active duty Airmen would be able to represent Dover AFB at the command finals.

Since the contest winner, Garcia, is the spouse of an Airman and not an active duty member, advancing will be second place finisher Airman 1st Class Joshua Dinan, 436th AMXS, who performed Awake by Josh Groban. In addition to representing Team Dover at the command finals, he will also receive an opportunity to audition for Tops In Blue.

Tops In Blue is an ensemble group made of active duty Air Force members comprised of vocalists, dancers, musicians and technicians.

"I'm very honored to go on to the next level; I was really hoping I would win and I'm glad I can get my name out there," said Dinan. "I really want to join Tops In Blue and go further with my singing."

The competition was judged by a panel of three judges.

One of the judges, Kristin Moore, wife of Col. Rick Moore, 436th Airlift Wing commander, is a classically trained opera singer and graduate of Butler University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in vocal performance and nonprofit management. She studied with Carla Rae Cook of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

"I'm so surprised and impressed with all the talent we have at Dover," said Moore. "They were fabulous and across the board they were good performers; and vocally, they hit it out of the park."

The other judges were Gary Coleman and Chris Patterson.

Coleman, a lifelong musician, is a retired Air Force master sergeant, who while serving at then Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, joined a band made up of military personnel and recorded an album of original material. He also performed and toured Japan, Australia and New Zealand with Tops In Blue.

With a Master's degree in Music Education from the University of Delaware, Patterson, North Dover Elementary School music teacher, rounded out the panel of judges. Along with being a teacher, he is the assistant marching band director at Wesley College in Dover and the Smyrna Opera House music director for the production of the musical Gypsy.

Team Dover's AMC Icon competition was organized by 1st Lt. Christopher Trejo, 436th Force Support Squadron civilian personnel section, who said he was impressed with the talent of the Team Dover contestants.

"I really had a great time putting this show together; this means a lot to me that everyone came out to show their support for these performers," said Trejo. "These folks were amazing performers."