El Paso native leads viral holiday flash mob

Photo By Master Sgt. Brian Davis | Col. Larry H. Lang conducts the band's first-ever flash mob at the National Air and Space museum. (Air Force photo/Released)  

DC, UNITED STATES

12.09.2013

Courtesy Story

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

WASHINGTON - Starting with a cellist and swelling to 120 musicians, The U.S. Air Force Band exhilarated National Air and Space Museum visitors last Tuesday with the first flash mob to be produced by one of the five military branches’ top bands. The five-minute performance featured an original arrangement of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring/Joy to the World” led by the Band’s commander and conductor, Col. Larry H. Lang who is a El Paso native. Unsuspecting museum visitors were astonished as instrumentalists streamed into the gallery from behind airplanes and space capsules, and vocalists burst into song from the museum’s second floor balcony.

Lang became the commander and conductor of The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. in 2012. Headquartered at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., it is the premier musical organization of the Air Force, with 180 professional military musicians and support personnel. The unit's mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States of America. Lang is responsible for all activities of this 184-member squadron including equipping, training and deploying Airmen musicians to perform nearly 1,600 missions each year.

The flash mob was the brain child of the Band’s producer, Chief Master Sgt. Jebodiah Eaton. “I wanted to produce the flash mob at a recognizable location in Washington, D.C. When the National Air and Space Museum agreed to partner with us, we knew it would be the perfect setting to kick off our holiday concert series,” Eaton said. Dozens of Band members with assistance from the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard worked behind the scenes to pull off this amazing endeavor. Fueled by innovation, this “viral video,” which has viewed so far by more than 1 million people worldwide, represents the Air Force’s continued commitment to excellence in air, space and cyberspace.

Lang’s bio and photo: http://www.usafband.af.mil/ensembles/BandBio.asp?BandBioID=1536

Media Contact: Chief Master Sgt. Jenn Pagnard
[e-mail]; O: 202-767-4310

• Date Taken: 12.09.2013
• Date Posted: 12.09.2013 14:49
• Story ID: 117941
• Location: DC, US
• Hometown: EL PASO, TX, US