US Air Force Academy band Blue Delta performs for Davis High students
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- Blue Delta vocalist Tech Sgt. Serenity Holloway sings on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, while performing live for Davis High School band students. Blue Delta is an ensemble affiliated with the United States Air Force Academy Band.
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- Davis High School band students listen to a live performance from Blue Delta, a United States Air Force Academy Band ensemble, on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.
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- Blue Delta, a United States Air Force Academy Band ensemble, is pictured in this undated photo. Band members, from left to right, are Tech Sgt. Brendan Malloy (guitar), Tech Sgt. Timothy Davis (piano), Tech Sgt. Serenity Holloway (vocals), Tech Sgt. Michael Coletti (drums) and Tech Sgt. Dominic Sbrega (bass guitar). Audio engineer Tech. Sgt. Nicolas Palensky is not pictured.
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- Tech Sgt. Michael Coletti, drums, and Tech Sgt. Brendan Malloy, guitar, play music during a live performance at Davis High School on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.
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- Davis High School band students listen as Blue Delta, a United States Air Force Academy Band ensemble, gives a live performance Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.
KAYSVILLE — Davis High School band students enjoyed a live performance from Blue Delta, a United States Air Force Academy Band ensemble, on Friday.
While DHS band director Michael Crookston has had military music representatives come to his class before, he said he has never hosted a premier military performance ensemble.
“This was a whole new level,” he said of the band, which played popular music renditions.
As music filtered out of Room 1826 and down the corridor, students sang along and danced in their seats. Crookston said these experiences not only inspire them to improve, but they also help break up the monotony of school life.
A former band parent, Corrine Hoffman, mentioned Delta Blue to Crookston and helped get his information to the right people. Requests for an Air Force Band can be made at https://www.music.af.mil/Request-A-Band/.
No matter the public or civic event for which the request is made, all military band performances must be free and open to the public. For questions regarding eligibility of a specific event, contact band support at SAF.PA.AF.Bands.Program@us.af.mil.
Consisting of two premier bands, nine active duty bands, five Air National Guard bands and a deployed band in the Central Command area of Southwest Asia, Air Force bands aim to honor, inspire and connect with communities all over the world.
Blue Delta works alongside 44 academy musicians stationed at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs and travels throughout Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
Full-time, active duty bandsmen commit to enhancing community relations, supporting the U.S. Air Force Academy’s recruiting mission as well as instilling Air Force core values of integrity, service and excellence in the nation’s youth.
Performing as musicians on behalf of the Air Force is the band’s main focus; however, they may be called upon at any time to serve in some other capacity.
“We don’t serve in a combat capacity,” Tech Sgt. Timothy Davis said.
Students inquired about military life and the GI Bill during the question-and-answer portion of Friday’s event. Crookston said he believes students who were not considering the military as an option after high school now have it on their radar.
Tech Sgt. Michael Coletti, who plays drums, attempted to break the stigma of military boot camp, saying the eight-week training period is not just about breaking recruits down to think and act as one. It is a time of learning military customs to succeed in a new way of life, he told students.
Blue Delta guitarist Tech Sgt. Brendan Malloy said he and fellow band members are not the same people they were in high school, reminding students that this time in their lives does not define them.
“Be a little less wild, stay focused and find what makes you happy,” Malloy said.