U.S. Air Force brass quintet to hold free concert in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A United States Air Force brass quintet will be coming to Moses Lake in April and performing a free concert.

The group, Travis Brass Quintet, which is a part of the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, based out of Travis Air Force Base near San Francisco, Calif., will be performing at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam Street, at 2 p.m. on April 23. The event is free for the public to attend and seating will be on a first come first served basis, according to Technical Sgt. Scott Wise, who is the staff arranger/facility manager for Travis Brass.

The Band of the Golden West is the only active duty Air Force band west of the Rocky Mountains and features 60 musicians performing for the public in seven states. The band also supports 13 Air Force bases, eight Air Force reserve wings and six recruiting squadrons in more than 250 performances a year, according to Travis Air Force Base’s website. The band’s mission is to advance Air Mobility Command and Air Force missions around the world by providing musical products and services for official military, recruiting and community relations events.

The Band of the Golden West features the following groups: Concert Band, Travis Brass, Ceremonial Marching Band, Commanders jazz ensemble, Mobility popular music ensemble, Golden West Winds woodwind quintet and Galaxy popular music ensemble.

Travis Brass regularly travels and performs in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Arizona, with audiences enjoying the quintet's chronicling of the Air Force’s rich and storied history.

“Our focus is on connecting the Air Force to the American people. And also giving a message of thank you to the veterans for their service in the communities that we travel to, which has been received quite well,” Wise said.

Travis Brass uses two trumpets, a horn, a trombone and a tuba, as well as a percussionist, to perform a wide variety of music. Wise said attendees of the upcoming concert in Moses Lake can expect music ranging from traditional brass quintet classics, to patriotic music, military marches, jazz and even the popular music of today.

"We try to get as much variety as we possibly can into our concerts,” Wise said. “If we can figure out a way to make five brass players play it, then we will do it.”

Wise said the free concert in Moses Lake is being sponsored by Moses Lake Parks and Recreation.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.