Travis Brass exhibits musical diversity

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Travis Hyde
  • U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In a memorandum released on Oct. 14, 2011, Air Force senior leadership said, "Diversity aggregates our strengths, perspectives, and capabilities in a way that transcends individual contributions."

Diversity is as vital to military bands as it is for the Air Force as a whole, specifically the Travis Brass of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West.

Travis Brass is an ensemble comprised of a traditional brass quintet plus a percussionist. By adding percussion, Travis Brass can perform music that is not normally performed by a brass quintet.

The group showcases a variety of musical styles and features members as soloists or on multiple instruments to demonstrate their musical prowess. Listeners may even hear one of the members sing a chart or two.

An important goal of Travis Brass is to provide an example of the professionalism and excellence demonstrated by Airmen every day, at home and abroad, in the United States Air Force. They are a highly versatile ensemble, performing for a wide variety of audiences and events.

In addition to performing for the public in formal concert settings, Travis Brass presents master classes and educational shows for young musicians as well as provides musical support for military ceremonies including retirements, Air Force graduations, award ceremonies and change of command ceremonies.

When preparing for a performance, Air Force bands must consider the audience for whom they will play. Tech. Sgt. Christi McGowan, Travis Bras NCO in charge, takes this task to heart.

"Travis Brass is a very eclectic group with a wide variety of repertoire," McGowan said. "Our repertoire has to be as diverse as our audiences. On any given week, Travis Brass will play marches, band or orchestra transcriptions, ragtime, jazz, funk and contemporary works written for brass quintet. We try to put a spin on all of these styles to make it enjoyable and relatable to audiences of all ages."

Along with McGowan on percussion, the group includes Senior Airman Matthew Garza on trumpet, Airman 1st Class George Brahler on trumpet and vocals, Staff Sgt. Robert Mayes on French horn, Senior Airman Travis Hyde on euphonium and trombone and Tech. Sgt. Michael Andrew on tuba.

It is common to hear Travis Brass perform works such as "Contrapunctus IX" by Johann Sebastian Bach followed by "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen and then "Dead Man Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton all in one setting. This type of diversity personifies what the Travis Brass does on a daily basis.

Currently, the Travis Brass, USAF Band of the Golden West, is scheduled to perform five exciting shows for the public featuring a very dynamic program. These local concerts, including a special Memorial Day concert, are free and open to the public.

May 27 - Memorial Day concert at Veteran's Memorial Plaza - Rancho Cordova.

June 1-7:30 p.m. at the State Theatre in Redbluff.

June 2 -6 p.m. at the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield.

June 9 - 3 p.m. at Foothill Presbyterian Church in San Jose.

June 19 -12 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sacramento.