Air Force band delights with holiday concert in St. Charles
The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America has performed for U.S. presidents, foreign royalty, Pope John Paul II, and hundreds of world leaders.
On Sunday afternoon, they played for a packed house of suburbanites in St. Charles.
The Norris Cultural Arts Center was filled by the time Commander and Conductor Jason S. Plosch bowed to the audience to start the band's patriotic holiday concert.
Sixty full-time musicians, who are also U.S. Air Force airmen, played wood and brass instruments while huge snowflakes were projected on the theater's walls. At stage right stood a Christmas tree, while stage left was reserved for a menorah.
Former Airman Chelsea Cameron Tabisz, of O'Fallon, Illinois, and A1C Denver Murphy, of Marion, Illinois, were the featured vocalists. Tabisz opened the show with holiday favorites, and later closed the performance with a holiday singalong. In between, Murphy gyrated across the stage performing Elvis Presley holiday tunes.
The squadron's mission is to support the Air Force through world-class musical productions that promote and support troop morale, recruiting, community relations and the preservation of national heritage.
The band performs worldwide about 400 times annually. Sunday was their last stop this year in the Chicago area.