United States Air Force Band The United States Air Force Band is a U . S . military band consisting of 177 active - duty members of the United States Air Force . It is the Air Force ' s premier musical organization and is based at Bolling Air Force Base , Washington , D . C . . Within the band there are six performing ensembles : Collectively , these musical groups perform a wide spectrum of styles , including classical , jazz , popular , patriotic and ceremonial music . The mission of the Band is to deliver musical products that inspire emotions , create positive impressions and communicate information according to Air Force objectives for the defense of the United States of America . The Band is part of the United States Air Force Bands Program , which consists of 10 active - duty stateside bands 4 overseas active - duty band locations and 11 Air National Guard bands . Formation and early history . The United States Air Force Band is the youngest of the military bands based in Washington , D . C . Its military life began on 24 September 1941 , with the formation of the Bolling Army Air Forces Band under the sponsorship of Lieutenant L . P . Holcomb , commanding officer of the Air Base Group at Bolling Field . Alf Heiberg served as the Band ' s first commander and led the group from 1941 to 1944 . The first ensemble consisted only of four players , but by the end of 1942 expanded to a total of 100 musicians . The group began to travel throughout the United States , performing at fairs and athletic events . To identify band members in uniform , Heiberg designed a cap emblem using the pilots ' wings with a superimposed musical lyre . This symbol has remained the emblem of The United States Air Force Band throughout its history . In 1944 , George S . Howard was named Commander and Conductor , a position he held for 20 years . Late in 1944 , he took the Band on its first international tour ; the group performed in England and France while the Royal Air Force Band toured the United States . This was the first tour for The Army Air Forces Band that included sites outside continental North America . Following World War II , all but five of the band members left for civilian life . However , because of the program ' s success during the war , Howard was asked to remain in command of the Band and was charged with reorganizing it to serve in peacetime functions . He immediately embarked on a recruiting program to return the group to its original size , and the total manpower strength was increased to 115 . The Symphony Orchestra was instituted during this reorganization and was the first group of its kind in any military band organization . The Symphony Orchestra ultimately supplied players not only for the Strolling Strings ( now known as The Air Force Strings ) but for the Concert Band , which , under Howard ' s direction , included cellists . The Band truly became The United States Air Force Band in 1947 when the Army Air Forces were officially designated as the United States Air Force . All units of the organization assumed the official " Air Force " title . WAF Band . In January 1951 , Howard organized the 543rd Air Force Band made up of 19 female airmen from the Women in the Air Force ( WAF ) program . He expanded this group to some 50 members and in June 1955 , in Air Force Regulation 190 - 21 , they were officially designated " United States WAF Band " , acknowledging their " de facto " status as USAF representatives rather than their original status as a simple base band . Their official mission became to " assist , within their capabilities , in promoting Air Force objectives and enhancing the prestige of the Air Force and the United States . " This meant there were now " two " bands serving as ambassadors of the USAF : the all - male Air Force Band and the all - female WAF Band . The WAF Band was dissolved in 1961 following its commander ' s contravention of a directive from Howard restricting performances at civilian schools and county fairs . Performances . Over the years , The United States Air Force Band has performed live for over 100 million people and has been broadcast via television and radio to audiences around the globe . It has embarked on 25 international concert tours , with performances in more than 50 countries and 42 world capitals . The musicians in The United States Air Force Band seek to promote better understanding between all people of the world , living up to its motto , " America ' s International Musical Ambassadors " . The United States Air Force Band performance schedule is coordinated by the 11th Operations Group at Bolling Air Force Base , which works with the Commander of the Air Force Band and the Air Force Band Operations Office to schedule performances and ceremonies by the Band ' s performing ensembles . Members of the Air Force Band ' s professional support staff , including the Library , Production , Technical Support , as well as the Administration , Markeing and Outreach , and Supply offices also work to coordinate , promote , and facilitate performances throughout the year . Performances by The United States Air Force Band include : A schedule of concerts is available on the Air Force Band website . Ensembles . ' The United States Air Force Concert Band ' is the largest ensemble of the Air Force Band . This symphonic wind ensemble presents over 100 concerts annually and performs a wide variety of repertoire from light classics , popular favorites and instrumental features , to classical transcriptions and original works for the band idiom . The Concert Band performs regularly for the general public in the greater Washington , D . C . , area and on biannual community relations tours throughout the United States . It has been a featured ensemble at gatherings of professional musical organizations , including the American Bandmasters Association , National Band Association , World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles , College Band Directors National Association , Music Educators National Conference and The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic . ' The Singing Sergeants ' is the official chorus of the United States Air Force . It was formed in 1945 from members of The United States Air Force Concert Band , but is now composed entirely of professional vocalists who have been appointed by audition . The Singing Sergeants have appeared before every chief executive of the United States since president Truman . The group has performed for functions at the White House , State Department , Supreme Court , Congressional , Department of Defense . The chorus tours the nation twice yearly with the Concert Band and has performed at the New York World ' s Fair , in Carnegie Hall , Lincoln Center , the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the John F . Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts . It has also been featured at national and regional gatherings of the American Choral Directors Association and . The ' Airmen of Note ' is the jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force . Created in 1950 to carry on the tradition of Glenn Miller ' s Army Air Force Band , the Note adopted a more contemporary style under the direction of Sammy Nestico . Beginning in the ' 70s , Senior Master Sgt . Mike Crotty , the Note ' s chief arranger for more than 25 years , helped elevate the band to the forefront of modern big band jazz . Today , Master Sgt . Alan Baylock , the Note ' s current chief arranger , maintains the band ' s commitment to driving innovation and respect for tradition . To augment its writing staff , the Airmen of Note has commissioned works by such arrangers as Bob Florence and Bob Mintzer . Sammy Nestico and fellow Note alumnus Tommy Newsom have each composed works for the group as well . The ' Air Force Strings ' is composed of 22 musicians who perform in a variety of musical settings , including a strolling formation known as the Strolling Strings , a traditional string orchestra and combined with members of the Concert Band to form a small symphony orchestra . Its members appear regularly as soloists , and in duo , trio and string quartet ensembles , to present chamber concert performances , and provide entertainment and ambient music for official protocol functions . The Air Force Strings performs at the White House , at official dinners hosted by the secretaries of state and defense , on Capitol Hill for members of Congress , and at official diplomatic events hosted by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chief of Staff of the Air Force . The ' Ceremonial Brass ' . Brass music has played an important role in public gatherings and ceremonies for hundreds of years and military leaders have often chosen brass bands to perform signals , alarms , and other outdoor ceremonial and concert music . The Ceremonial Brass continues this ancient tradition by providing musical support for state arrivals at the White House , full honor arrivals for foreign dignitaries at the Pentagon , retirements , changes of command , awards ceremonies , patriotic programs and funerals at Arlington National Cemetery . The group performs more than 300 ensemble and 300 solo performances per year . It represented the United States Air Force at the 50th anniversary of V . E . Day celebration in Moscow , as well as in military tattoo ceremonies in the Netherlands , Sweden and Norway . Additionally , the Ceremonial Brass has made numerous appearances on radio and national television , including Fourth of July performances on NBC ' s Today Show . ' Max Impact ' is a contemporary popular music ensemble consisting of four vocalists and supported by a five - piece rhythm section . The band fuses the elements of hip - hop , rock , pop , country and urban sounds and is influenced by artists such as Destiny ' s Child , Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera . Original Max Impact songs are also regularly featured as the band strives to build Airmen morale and pride in service . In addition to performances in the United States , Max Impact has deployed to the U . S . Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom . Personnel . Commanders