Rapid City, SD – Rapid City welcomes the U.S. Air Force Academy Band as they begin the weeks festivities at the Memorial Park Bandshell at 7pm on July 1^st. They will remain in the area as they perform for the Mount Rushmore ticketed Fireworks show on the 3^rd and finally close out the festivities on the 4^th of July with performances open to the public at 3 PM and 7:30 PM. They will be showcasing music from the Revolutionary War all the way to modern days. In a press conference interview with the Commander and conductor, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hoerber, and Master Sergeant Brian Connolly, they describe the excitement the month of July brings every year and emphasize how special the 250^th anniversary is for them and their musicians. The Air Force Academy Band has been around since the forming of the academy in 1954, and according to the Air Force Bands website, the mission from the Secretary of Defense is to use music as a way for the military to connect with civilians and Lt. Col. Hoerber shares the same belief. Hoerber states that he has “the best job in the Air Force. I get to take this incredible, talented group of professional Airmen musicians out to connect with the public, to inspire them about what our Air Force and Space Force are doing, and to honor our veterans”. 

HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING IN THE MILITARY AND BEING A WE, RATHER THAN A YOU WITH MUSIC, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE? 

“The marriage between music and military is always a little bit complicated,” M SGT Connolly begins, “music is an extremely creative art, and the military focuses a lot more on uniformity and being the same as everyone else. Although we have uniform standards, I love seeing the individual talents of all the people I work with”. 

“The band is a metaphor for the military” Hoerber adds, “because you have all these different capabilities. If you’re talking about the Air Force you got people who fix the planes, you get people who gas the plane, you make sure avionics work, you got the support crew, and so every part of the band is their individual instruments playing all individual parts. But when we all work together, unity of effort, you’re making this amazing harmonious sound when everything’s working”. 

AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL TO START THE FIRST BILATERAL CEREMONIAL BAND AND TO BE AWARDED AS A DIRECTOR OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE PROGRAM, IS IT FAIR TO SAY YOU BELIEVE IN UNITY AND THE AMERICAN DREAM OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HEPPINESS? 

“Absolutely. I think there’s really more about our country that we agree on than disagree, but there are forces out there that want to see us divided. Because as a unified country, nothing can every stop the United States. So, again, with music, it reaches the human soul. You can’t help but tap your foot or snap your fingers, or clap your hands to some march, or weep in tears when we play something that’s honoring someone who’s given their life. It’s what makes us all human, and that is unifying”. 

It is well recognized that the 250^th year of America is not its best year by far. Among political discourse, active war, rising interest rates, and civil rights violations, the band and its directors carry the weight of reconnecting civilians and soldiers to the true beauty that is the core of America and its dream. “There’s so much good,” Hoerber states, “we [the band] see the best of America, the ‘Real America’, not what is necessarily portrayed on the internet”.  “The mission [creating connection and honoring veterans] we’re doing tonight I want to last in the memory of people for as many years as possible”.  Hopefully after a weekend of good food, great music, and fun times, we the people can remember and being to practice our uniting dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.