Saturday’s performance of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band in Irvington will be a homecoming for the Northern Neck’s Airman First Class Christopher Hall, a tubist with the band.
He will be among the 60 Air Force musicians performing in the free concert on the Irvington Town Commons, 98 King Carter Drive, beginning at 6 p.m.
Concertgoers are encouraged to bring chairs and picnics to the band’s performance. Concert sponsor Chesapeake Bank will offer free hot dogs, chips and desserts, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The concert will be preceded earlier that day by the Irvington Farmers’ Market which will be held on the Town Commons from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both the market and band concert are presented by the Irvington Village Improvement Association.
Hall enlisted with the USAF Heritage of America Band in 2024 and has performed for military and civilian audiences across the East Coast with its concert band and brass ensemble. The band entertains more than 1.5 million people each year at some 300 events for the general public and in support of Air Force morale and protocol events.
Hall got his start as a band musician at Northumberland Middle School under Walt Mallorie who introduced him to Brian Thacker, the principal tubist at the Northern Neck Orchestra. Thacker connected Hall with the orchestra where he played for a couple of seasons. As a Northumberland High School freshman, Hall was named the first chair tubist for the Virginia All-State Orchestra.
Hall transferred to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan, for his remaining high school years. He received his bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Michigan and was the Principal Tuba with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra in Adrian, Michigan. Hall also performed on the Grammy-nominated recording of John Luther Adams’ composition “Sila: Breath of the World,” with musicians of the University of Michigan.
Hall attended graduate school at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music for his master’s degree in Music and the Herbert School of Business for his master’s degree in Business Leadership. During his time in Florida, he performed with the Sarasota Orchestra.