Air Force Band Piano Vacancy

[airmanjerm]

Hello Pianists!

The US Air Force Band of the Golden West would like to announce a vacancy for a Piano Player/Keyboardist. Our group is located at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area, also near Napa Valley and Sacramento. The Bay Area is full of opportunities to grow as a musician, hear live performances, and perform with local bands and orchestras.

Those interested in this position should be well-rounded performers, capable of performing a wide variety of styles including classical and jazz. Excellent sight-reading skills and the ability to play/improvise from a lead sheet are required. For more specific information on requirements, please see the list of Piano Audition Requirements here:

https://www.bands.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070428-004.pdf

To apply, send a resume and a sample performance CD to:

USAF Band of the Golden West
ATTN: SSgt Jeremy Martin
551 Waldron Street
Travis AFB CA 94535

It is highly recommended that applicants include a variety of styles on the submitted recording, but a minimum of at least one classical work and one jazz selection are required. Materials should be postmarked by June 3, 2011. (If you're interested, contact me and you can email your materials to me directly.) Those selected as semifinalists will be notified and invited to the live audition, which will be held at Travis Air Force Base on Tuesday, June 21, 2011.

Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 35; minimum initial enlistment is four years. Starting salary ranges from $38K-$42k annually. Members of the Air Force Band enjoy full military benefits, including complete medical/dental coverage for yourself and all family members, educational benefits (such as the new Post-9/11 GI Bill and Student Loan Repayment up to $10K), and 30 days of annual paid vacation. The answers to many other frequently asked questions may be found on the Air Force Bands website at:

https://www.bands.af.mil/careers/regionalbandfaq.asp

For more information, contact SSgt Jeremy Martin by email at jeremy.martin.3@us.af.mil or by phone at (707) 424-8770.

Thanks!

[cygnusdei]

This sounds like a neat opportunity. 30 days paid vacation? Wow!
Never heard piano in military band before. I would apply but I don't think I'd get out of basic training alive.

[airmanjerm]

Thanks for the response...yes, active duty military members earn 2.5 days of leave (vacation) per month, so 30 days per year. You don't usually take it all at one time, of course, except under certain circumstances.

We have two pianists in our organization (well, one position is currently vacant of course). One of our pianists is assigned to the rock band while the other is assigned to the Concert Band. Members from our concert band also form our jazz band, so the pianist assigned to the concert band is also assigned to the jazz group. Unlike some services have done in the past, our pianists are not relegated to playing bass drum in marching band. (lol)

Air Force basic training is not terribly difficult...it's more difficult than relaxing on the couch, but nowhere near the gruesome ordeal many people know from the opening of "Full Metal Jacket."

If you (or anyone else) are interested, let me know and I can tell you more about the gig. It comes with tremendous benefits and opportunities - last year we performed at the Hollywood Bowl with the L.A. Philharmonic for their 4th of July series. Not an opportunity to pass up if you're interested in a performing career!