Airman builds ties with local orchestra

by Staff Sgt. Robert Barnes
U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West

4/4/2014 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- Tech. Sgt. Anna Andrew, United States Air Force Band of the Golden West clarinetist, performed March 22 with the Solano Symphony at the KROC Center and at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theater March 23.

As the featured soloist, Andrew performed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Clarinet Concerto in A Major."

"I was extremely excited to share the stage with the musicians of our Solano Symphony," Andrew said. "We are so fortunate to have an orchestra right here in our community and it's
an honor to be able to build a relationship with them as an active duty Air Force musician."

Solano Symphony contributes to the vitality of artistic life in Solano County by providing an outlet for local musicians, supporting the local art culture, as well as featuring local guest artists. Andrew's guest appearance demonstrated the Air Force's desire to support the local music community, providing outreach and an active presence in the arts.

This cooperation not only sustained the professional image of the Air Force in general, but it also showed the support of this local symphony for military members. This collaboration helped to strengthen the relationship Travis has with civilian organizations in its community.

"Both concerts were wonderful. Sergeant Andrew's performance of Mozart's concerto was outstanding, flawless and beautiful. Our audiences enjoyed her playing very much and gave her
a long standing ovation at both venues," said Semyon Lohss, conductor of the symphony.

A native of Nyssa, Ore., Andrew graduated from the University of Texas-San Antonio with a bachelor of music degree. She also earned a master of music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

After graduating from Basic Military Training as an honor graduate in 1999, Andrew was assigned to the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. While there, she performed with such notable guest artists as Sandi Patty, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Celine Dion, Take Six, Vince Gill and Amy Grant.

In 2011, Andrew was transferred to Travis Air Force Base where she currently serves as principal clarinetist in the Concert Band and Golden West Winds woodwind quintet.

Collaborating with local orchestras is a perfect way of building domestic partnerships, one of the Air Force's core priorities. This performance helped to develop, guide and sustain relationships between the Band of the Golden West and Solano Symphony for mutual benefit. It allowed a military musician to demonstrate the excellence of all Air Mobility Command Airmen as a representative of Travis Air Force Base. In other words, it gave the Air Force a face and a presence within the historically hard-to-reach cultural arts realm.

Building partnerships is an integral part of being an Airman. Through musical collaboration of this kind, relationships based upon trust are developed to improve both organizations and the local community as a whole. This is an example of the pride and professionalism shown throughout the Air Force.

Andrew and the other 69 professional Airman musicians from the Band of the Golden West perform often in the local area. To find out more about their free concerts, visit the band's website at www.bandofthegoldenwest.af.mil.