Ghanaian school house rock

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Natasha Stannard
  • U.S. Air Forces Africa Public Affairs
ACCRA, Ghana --  U.S. Air Forces in Europe band, Touch 'n Go, performed at the Accra Girls Senior High School as part of their tour to Ghana in support of the African Partnership Flight March 14 here.

The band is playing in support of U.S. Air Forces Africa two-week military-to-military partnership building flight in various locations throughout the Ghanaian coast to spread cheer to the host nation of APF's countrymen.

"We love doing this stuff," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Frandsen, Touch 'n Go bassist, of performing at community building events. "Just seeing the crowd's reaction is rewarding."

This performance is Touch 'n Go's first of seven, and it packed in a full crowd as audience members scrounged to find seats even outside the auditorium just to hear the USAFE band jam.

"The moment the bell rang, my students ran to the hall just to get space and see what the band was all about," said Viola Damali, AGSHS mistress in charge of Air Force cadets. "Wednesdays are usually for talks...this time around we had a band. Some [students] came out of curiosity -- they didn't know what type of band would play or what was going to happen, but once they came, they didn't leave."

As students entered the auditorium so did their excitement.

"I'm so excited to see the band because I love music; music has inspirational ways that encourage me in my life," said Lawrencia Ofori, AGSHS student. "I'm so happy and so glad the Air Force band is here."

The band set things off with an anthem that left the full-house rocking and kept the dance party going as vocalist, Tech. Sgt. Craig Bowman, gathered members of the crowd throughout their performance to "shake that."

"Dancing was splendid and I love the lead singer," said Hannah Ofori-Attah, AGSHS student. "Someday I'm going to sing in Germany like him. I wish I was the one singing; it was inspirational."

But, the lead singer wasn't the only one who inspired students and kept the rhythms bumping as Staff Sgt. Robert Browning jammed out on the drums, Tech. Sgt. Mark Frandsen slapped the bass, Staff Sgt. Mathew Peacock tickled the ivory keys on the keyboard, Staff Sgt. Dustin Trimble strummed the guitar and Staff Sgt. Nick Wellman kept the all the tunes flowing as the audio technician.

"I was so in love with everything," said Allsa Schwartz, AGSHS student, of the band's performance. "It was so real -- I felt like I was a part of it."

Students weren't the only ones impressed as the impression the band had on the students left a lasting impression on faculty as well.

"For my cadets this was an inspiration." Damali said. "It was like having their big brothers and sisters visit from the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force band is a mentor to them. They want to know how to get in the Air Force...some of them want to be singers and this opens that door for them."

At the end of the day, the performance left not only the girls seeking autographs from all the band members with smiles on their faces, but the band as well.

"My favorite part is the connection we make," said Bowman of performances. "You can go to any culture or demographic of people around the world and make an instant connection with the gift of music like we did today."