Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Borunda | A member of Colour TV, rocks out at the inaugural Operation Rock Star at Hayden Square...... read more read more
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TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Army National Guard’s 108th Army Band headlined the USO Arizona’s Operation Rock Star concert at the Hayden Square Amphitheatre on May 6.
The local USO hosted its first ever battle-of-the-bands style contest to highlight young musical talent while strengthening community bonds between Arizona Service members and the communities they serve.
“We really appreciate the opportunity to perform,” said Summer Welsh, lead singer of Undecided Youth a four-person pop-rock band that took first place in the best band category. “We are just so thankful. It’s awesome, and we really, really appreciate it.”
The bands and soloists that performed for local residents and Guardsman were: Poison Ivy, Bad Time For Tea, Katelyn Snyder, Callie Young, Undecided Youth, JAM, Iron Kill and Colour T.V.
Calion Maston, a local actor and comedian, emceed festivities and the Arizona Army National Guard rock band Ordnance closed the show before the winners were announced.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Baumgardt said that the band’s mission is to inspire Soldiers, and to instill the will to fight and to win. Baumgardt is a senior noncommissioned officer with the 108th and has more than 22 years of experience in Regular Army and National Guard bands.
“I have enjoyed the opportunity to promote the Army, promote the military profession, and provide esprit de corps for Soldiers and patriotism to our audiences in the civilian community,” Baumgardt said.
He said the best part of the band is the Soldiers he works with.
“It’s the people that you meet in the Army and work with. They’re your teammates, your brother’s in arms, your comrades,” Baumgardt said.
“That’s been the benefit and joy that I have received from serving in the band.”
Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Robinson, the marketing noncommissioned officer for the Arizona National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, explained the uniqueness of the many ensemble configurations within the band as well as the specific qualifications it takes to be a member.
“A lot of people see the 108th … marching in parades, but there are so many different ways to configure today’s Army Band,” Robinson said. “The unique challenge of enlisting in a military band is that before you can enlist, you have to demonstrate proficiency with an instrument first.”
This inaugural event demonstrated the value the Arizona National Guard places on its relationships with the community and its partners.
“Having the kids perform on stage for 45 minutes, then watching the 108th’s rock band perform the way they do will hopefully open their eyes to opportunities within the Army band,” Robinson said.
| Date Taken: | 05.06.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2017 14:13 |
| Story ID: | 233325 |
| Location: | TEMPE, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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