Music director reflects on 30 years

By Don Branum

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The Academy’s music director is almost as much of a fixture here as the organ in the Cadet Chapel’s Protestant worship area that he plays every Sunday morning. He has played the organ, which turned 50 years old this month, at weddings, funerals and worship services. He’s instructed Cadet Chorale members whose sons and daughters later joined the Chorale.

Dr. Joe Galema grew up in West Lafayette, Ind. He graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., with a bachelor’s degree in organ performance and received a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan. From there, he said, he came straight to the Air Force Academy.

“I was finishing my doctorate … and I was interviewing and auditioning for different jobs around the country,” Galema explained.