"The President's Own"

This week the Marine Band will perform a mix of music with Danish, French, and Spanish influences, as well as popular works including Selections from Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and the Main Title from Star Wars by John Williams. Conducted by Assistant Director Maj. Michelle A. Rakers, the outdoor performances will take place at 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 6, on the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol and at 8 p.m., Thursday, July 7, at the Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Both concerts are free and no tickets are required.

The concerts will begin with a Danish march followed by American composer Joseph Turrin’s “Fandango,” featuring trumpet soloist Staff Sgt. Brandon Eubank and trombone soloist Staff Sgt. Daniel Brady. The showpiece includes rhythms of the Spanish dance known as the Fandango and, according to Eubank, is “full of exciting Spanish flair and expression. It is an instant crowd favorite.”

The composer is no stranger to the Marine Band since “The President’s Own” has performed his pieces throughout the years, including a 2002 performance of ‘Fandango’ at Alice Tully Hall in New York with guest soloists Phil Smith and Joe Alessi, both of the New York Philharmonic.

“I have always thought of the Marine Band as being one of the great ensembles,” said Turrin. “I grew up as a young composer listening to two groups—the Eastman Wind Ensemble and the U.S. Marine Band—and thought that someday I might be lucky enough to have my music performed by these two wonderful groups.”
Turrin continued, “I think the piece’s popularity, besides being a good showcase for the trumpet and trombone soloists, is its melodic and rhythmical energy which is a real plus for audiences.”

The band will continue the Spanish and dance theme with Morton Gould’s Santa Fe Saga, and the concerts will conclude with Leonard Bernstein’s Candide Suite and the contemporary popular Selections from Wicked and Main Title from Star Wars.

For the Summer Fare performances, limited street parking is available. For concerts at the Capitol, patrons may travel via Metro and take the red line to Union Station or the blue, orange, or silver lines to the Capitol South station, and the orange, blue, or silver lines to the Smithsonian station for concerts at the Sylvan Theater. The concerts are free but weather permitting and programming is subject to change. Inclement weather announcements will be made by 6 p.m. on the band’s Concert Information Line at (202) 433-4011.