Fort Huachuca -- The Military Intelligence Corps Band hosted its Swinging Christmas holiday concert at Colonel Smith Middle School Dec. 15.
The band welcomed guests with a flute trio playing holiday tunes as people took their seats in the multi-purpose room. Band members opened the show by walking through the crowd singing carols as they made their way to the stage.
Col. Whit Wright, garrison commander, introduced the MI Corps Band to the audience. He wished everyone a happy holiday and then the band opened with "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" and played a variety of different holiday music from the Christmas carol "Silent Night" featuring Sgt. Travis Myers on saxophone, to ballet scores compiled into one musical piece for "The Nutcracker Suite." Sgt. 1st Class Dana Fischl and Sgt. Michael Kiese provided vocals for many of the songs, and sang a duet for "Baby, Its Cold Outside." They played "Sleigh Ride" when an encore was requested by the audience.
Soldiers were joined by Brad Clark and Patty Mackey of Sierra Vista who played as musician volunteers. Clark said he filled in with the band a few times this year and has done it before. He said he "went on tour with the band last year and played with them in April when they needed a baritone sax."
Clark has a wide variety of experience with instruments.
"I have played seven different types of saxophone for one concert, depending on what was needed." To prepare for the Christmas concert, Clark said he "practiced four or five times before a concert (with the band)."
Myers, tenor saxophone player, who played a feature part in one of the Swinging Christmas performances, said he's been in the MI Corps Band for six months, but he's "been in Army bands for over four years." Myers's said "The Nutcracker was my favorite piece that we played."
Spc. Joseph May, saxophone player, said he's been in the MI Corps Band for six months also and Fort Huachuca is his first duty station.
"I love it," Mays said. "Everything about Fort Huachuca. The Arizona weather. I grew up in Michigan. So this is the best winter I've ever had. The band here is great. It's nice to be surrounded by people with similar interests."
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