Academy Band performs for near-capacity audiences in Great Falls, Mont. Published Oct. 15, 2009 By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Hill U.S. Air Force Academy Band GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- The U.S. Air Force Academy Band performed "Celebration" to a near-capacity audience in the Mansfield Center for the Performing Arts here Oct. 13 and 14 under the direction of 2nd Lt. Jason Plosch. Col. Anthony Cotton, vice commander for the 341st Missile Wing at nearby Malmstrom Air Force Base, introduced the band, and the Malmstrom AFB Honor Guard presented the colors. The band featured students from the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind hand-signing during the national anthem and "America the Beautiful." Students performing with the band were Skylee Black, Alysha Callantine, Juan Diaz, Thea Dupre, Kailynn Hughes, JG Hunter, Erin Jessen, Isaac Jones, Tyler Nicholson, Karyll Perkins, Aubrey Winans, Brooke Wood and Thyra Wood. Jennifer Wasson and Dessica Wilson directed. "The Dames of Broadway" featured Academy Band vocalists and instrumentalists in a choreographed performance of Broadway favorites from the 1940s to today as well as patriotic songs such as "The Stars and Stripes Forever." The band recognized military veterans by playing the official songs of all five armed services. The band is scheduled to perform at the Mother Lode Theater in Butte, Mont., Oct. 15, in a performance that will feature Tech. Sgt. Tim Blake on marimba.