Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      The United States Air Force Band performs a holiday flash mob Dec. 2, 2014, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The band’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Devon Suits)United States Air Force Band
                        
                        
                        The United States Air Force Band performs a holiday flash mob Dec. 2, 2014, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The band’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Devon Suits)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        The United States Air Force Band performs a holiday flash mob Dec. 2, 2014, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The band’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Kevin
Burns)United States Air Force Band
                        
                        
                        The United States Air Force Band performs a holiday flash mob Dec. 2, 2014, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The band’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Kevin
Burns)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        The United States Air Force Band performs a holiday flash mob Dec. 2, 2014, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The band’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Devon Suits)United States Air Force Band
                        
                        
                        The United States Air Force Band performs a holiday flash mob Dec. 2, 2014, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The band’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Devon Suits)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Master Sgt. Joshua Kowalsky, United States Air Force Concert Band cellist, talks with his daughter after their flash mob Dec. 2, 2014, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The band’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and America. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Devon Suits)United States Air Force Band
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. Joshua Kowalsky, United States Air Force Concert Band cellist, talks with his daughter after their flash mob Dec. 2, 2014, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The band’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and America. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Devon Suits)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

AF Band performs new holiday flash mobPublished Dec. 3, 2014
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Devon Suits
                    
                    
                    Air Force News Service
            **CHANTILLY, Va. (AFNS) --**‘Tis the season where friends and family come together over a bountiful spread of food and drink -- the time of year where gifts are exchanged and memories and traditions are made. But it is also the time of year when the U.S. Air Force Band surprises the world with another musical flash mob. 
This year’s performance, held at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center here, provided the perfect backdrop to the band’s commitment to positively impact the local community while reaching a worldwide audience through various online and social media platforms. 

“Airman musicians are fortunate to serve our country in the Air Force by inspiring people through music,” said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Kamholz, the superintendent of band marketing and outreach.  “The success of our first video is a testament to the power of music and the power of the U.S. Air Force.”
Giving a smooth and unexpected performance took a lot of meticulous planning and coordination, Kamholz said, so the band began preparing their winter surprise in July. The first steps were finding the location and scheduling the proper time in the band’s busy schedule.
Kamholz said the next step of the planning process was securing the rights to use the English lyrics for the songs “Greensleeves” and “Carol of the Bells.” With the publisher’s permission, the band was authorized to arrange the music as needed, perform it live, record the session and later release it. 
After the selection was approved, Kamholz said the musicians in blue brought on retired Senior Master Sgt. Bob Thurston, the chief arranger from the 2013 flash mob at the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum in Washington, D.C.
“He wrote the one last year and he has the most experience writing these all-encompassing compositions,” Kamholz said. 
From there, the music was taken through several read-through rehearsals and tweaked until the final composition was selected.
“Once the arrangement was completed, it was given to the instrumentalists and vocalists to practice and memorize,” said Lt. Col. Donald Schofield, the band’s director of operations. “The musical arrangement was modified slightly between each rehearsal to achieve the right balance between each musical line ... For this year's video, there were four musical rehearsals at The U.S. Air Force Band's facility on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C.” 
The final practice included more than 100 military musicians and was held at the museum the night before the performance. 
“Finally, some of our audio technicians and musicians served as videographers for the project,” Schofield said. “During the final dress rehearsal at the museum, they reacquainted themselves with the video equipment and practiced their camera angles while the audio crew adjusted their settings to achieve the perfect sound.”
According to band officials, the audio from the performance was recorded through more than 40 different wireless microphone channels and nine different cameras at various locations and angles.
“The Air Force is fueled by innovation and after the success of (our) viral flash mob video last year, we decided to expand upon that concept,” Kamholz said. “We use music to bridge language, cultural and societal differences.”
The nine reels were later edited to make up the final video. Once that was complete, the audio was then synced to the video, timing specific instruments’ audio during playback. 
“There is an obvious tie between the Air Force and both of the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museums,” he said. “We’ve enjoyed partnering with them to demonstrate the U.S. Air Force Band’s commitment to upholding our mission in air, space and cyberspace.”
For more information about the U.S. Air Force Band, go to their official homepage. *(Charmaine Crutchfield contributed to this article)*flash mob 



holiday 



Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum 



United States Air Force Band Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil