The Department of Music at Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) in collaboration with the US Consulate General, Kolkata, presented the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific in a historic first-time interactive session and performance at MLCU Umsawli campus today.
The band is one of the premier US musical units in the Indo-Pacific and they interacted with the students, faculty members, musicians and general audience. Before coming to Shillong, the band performed at various institutes in Kolkata and Guwahati.
Known for their motto, “Partnerships through Music,” the band comprises five professional brass players who represent the unique tradition of military music. They create lasting impressions at ceremonial and protocol events within US base communities and beyond. Their extensive repertoire spans traditional military music to holiday and popular music, allowing them to engage audiences of all ages and cultures.
“Music transcends boundaries and brings people together,” Elizabeth Lee, the Director of the American Center Kolkata, said. “By bringing the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific to Shillong, we are hoping to continue to strengthen the cultural and people-to-people ties between the United States and India. This tour is a celebration of our shared values and the enduring friendship between our nations. Shillong, with its rich cultural heritage, is known for its love of music and culture, and we’re excited to share a bit of American culture here through this five-piece brass band.”
The USAF Band of the Pacific averages 200 performances a year, reaching over 2 lakh people. They have performed in various countries, including India, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Mongolia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and Laos. They also regularly tour South Korea and Japan, where the US has an extensive military presence.
The band is staffed by 24 full-time professional musicians who fulfill both community relations and military functions throughout the Western Pacific region.
Founded in 1941 at Eglin Field, Florida, with just one sergeant and two corporals, the band has a storied history. During the Second World War, they were stationed in locations such as French Polynesia, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and the Philippines. The band eventually settled at Clark Air Base on Luzon Island, Philippines. In 1988, they relocated to Yokota Air Base in Japan, continuing their mission in the Western Pacific. The band was officially renamed The United States Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia in 1997.
This three-city India tour is part of the U.S. Consulate Kolkata’s initiative to foster stronger people-to-people connections between the United States and India through cultural exchanges.
On Wednesday they will play at St Anthony’s College in the morning, followed by The Evening Club in the evening.
