Feb. 24, 2006
by Master Sergeant Melinda Burts
U.S. Air Force Band public affairs
The United States Air Force Band is proud to announce the winner of the 2006 Col. George S. Howard Young Artist Competition. He is tubist Gabriel Sears, a senior at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M. He will join the Air Force Concert Band on Sunday in a performance at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., playing the first movement of the Tuba Concerto by Edward Gregson.
Mr. Sears began his music career in fifth grade on the euphonium and switched to tuba the following year. He studies privately with his middle-school band director and has been a member of La Cueva High School Wind Ensemble and Marching Band for four years. He has played at solo-and-ensemble festivals every year since the sixth grade. He also composes music and plays bass trombone, piano and guitar.
This is the 13th year for the Young Artist Competition, which recognizes and inspires musical talent and fosters interest in military band careers. It is named for the second commander and conductor of The U.S. Air Force Band. After a preliminary round of taped auditions, five finalists were invited to Bolling Air Force Base to audition in person.
For information about the 2007 competition, write to Young Artist Competition, The United States Air Force Band, 201 McChord Street, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., or e-mail youngartist@bolling.af.mil.