Deborah is a Chief Master Sergeant and a violinist with the US Air Force Strings and US Air Force Band. Deborah loves the gratification of playing for active service members on deployment and encourages interested musicians to look into a military career. As she puts it, it’s a secure job that allows her to play her instrument professionally around the world!
Transcript
>> My name is Debora Volker, and I'm a Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force. In the Air Force I am a violinist, and I also currently serve as a Flight Chief for the Air Force Strings. Which is one of six performing ensembles, or what we call flights, within the United States Air Force band in Washington, D.C. We mostly perform as a strolling ensemble. Stroll for dinners and events. But we also can combine with members of the concert band, and make a symphony orchestra or a chamber orchestra. We perform for various functions, anything from community relations, education outreach events in the schools. Perform for military and governmental events. No two days are ever the same. It could be as simple as, we get up in the morning and we have a performance. Maybe that afternoon during lunch in the dining facility, and maybe that evening we play in the community center. Or we've had days where we get up and we go to each of the work stations, and perform for those that can't make it to come in the evening. Such as the firefighters out on the flight lines, that just aren't released. So we would go to them. I had the opportunity to deploy. Sometimes we would just play in the chow halls or what -- they call them DFAC's. We would play there for them while they were eating. A couple times we went to forward operating bases, played for the troops there. Through our performances, we honor those that have served. We inspire American citizens to heighten patriotism and service, and we positively impact the global community, on behalf of the US Air Force and the United States of America.
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