Home Antioch Antioch Native Wins Outstanding Military-Wide Musician Award

Antioch Native Wins Outstanding Military-Wide Musician Award

by ECT

Hat tip to the Kiwanis Club of the Delta–Antioch as they alerted me to this wonderful story as Antioch Native Technical Sergeant Marcel Marchetti was awarded the The Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award for 2012.  Below is an article published last month from the U.S. Air Force Academy Band website.

Congratulations Technical Sergeant Marcel Marchetti!

Marcel Marchetti

USAF Academy Band Member Wins Military-Wide Award
by A1C Kevin Cerovich
USAF Academy Band

2/11/2013 – US Air Force Academy, CO — The Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award is awarded in honor of Colonel Finley R. Hamilton, retired Commander and Conductor of the United States Army Field Band Program. This award captures Colonel Hamilton’s dedication to the musicians of the armed forces and his tireless championing of outstanding musician leaders in service bands from all branches.

These qualities of service and outstanding leadership are exemplified by Technical Sergeant Marcel Marchetti, the winner of the 2012 “Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award.” A native of Antioch, CA. Technical Sergeant Marchetti graduated from the University of Miami, studying both Music Performance and Jazz Studies on trumpet. His professional experience as a freelance musician is extensive and formidable, to say the least. Upon joining the Military in 1994, he served in the Band of the United States Air Force Reserve until joining The United States Air Force Academy Band in 2009. It didn’t take long for TSgt Marchetti’s superb dedication to service and excellence to shine through.

In discussing his volunteer work with the Red Cross during the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire, TSgt. Marchetti described the importance of community relations, regardless of occupational position. “Now the Colorado Springs community knows the USAF Academy Band as the “go to band.”” His experiences as a freelance musician and use of people skills such as these further prepared him for the rigorous versatility demands made upon Military Musicians.

Although TSgt. Marchetti joined the Air Force to serve his country and receive the phenomenal benefits available, he says his patriotism wasn’t fully realized until his first deployment. On a deployment in Southern Afghanistan at an installation of over two thousand troops, most of whom were in their twenties, TSgt. Marchetti discovered what he calls the “power of music.” As musical director of his group, a young private named Travis asked him in the middle of the concert if he could sit in on guitar. “It’s all about them, not us,” is how Marchetti described this encounter. Upon allowing the young man on stage, the whole installation went wild with excitement! After playing the entire last set with the Air Force band for his ecstatic colleagues, he told TSgt. Marchetti, “This was the best night of my life!” Immediately following the concert, Marchetti was approached by a Colonel who told him, “Thanks for what you did.” TSgt. Marchetti thanked her graciously, only to be met with, “No, really, thank you. Last week, Travis and his group of 22 were ambushed and he was the only survivor. He saw his best friend, whom he had joined the military with, killed in front of his eyes. You did more for that man tonight in an hour of music than psychologists could do in two years!”

“You never know what someone’s been through yesterday, and how the power of music can change lives and situations.” stated TSgt. Marchetti in regards to the mission of Air Force Bands.

TSgt Marchetti’s achievements range from performing in the “Holly and Ivy” holiday concerts for 13,000 people to being featured with the Falconaires’ jazz ensemble for Connecticut audiences totaling 7,000. Marchetti also performed “Taps” at five high profile Academy funerals honoring fallen military members. This is one of the highest honors any Military Musician can be called to participate in. As an educator, TSgt. Marchetti has given nine musical master classes this year for over one hundred students. As a player, he excels in any musical style.

After hundreds of live performances to audiences of nearly four hundred thousand people, Marchetti is more than qualified for this distinguished award. We in the Air Force Academy Band look forward to many more years of gaining knowledge, wisdom and experience serving and performing with the winner of the 2012 Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award, Technical Sergeant Marcel Marchetti.

Source:
http://www.usafacademyband.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123335910

About the Award:
The Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award acknowledges U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard enlisted musicians, and honors the memory of Colonel Finley R. Hamilton, U.S Army (Ret), who succumbed to cancer while serving as President of the National Band Association (NBA). The recipients of this distinguished award exhibit outstanding musical and leadership excellence.

The Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award is awarded in honor of Colonel Finley R. Hamilton who served 35 years in the Army Band Program retiring from service as the Commander and Conductor of the United States Army Field Band. This award captures Colonel Hamilton’s dedication to the musicians of the armed forces and his tireless championing of outstanding musician leaders in service bands from all branches.

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1 comment

JimSimmons42 Mar 12, 2013 - 11:06 am

What a great story and thank you for raising awareness about it.

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