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Fall Chamber Music Series: Sunday, Oct. 7 - Sunday, Oct. 7 at 2 pm: Coordinated by percussionist Master Sgt. Glenn Paulson, this chamber program features two new works for percussion by Marine Band percussionists: the world première of Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Bisesi’s Go and Paulson’s Guaguanco. The program will also include various other ensembles including solo violin, string quartet, and small ensembles of mixed instruments. The concert is free and will take place in John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex in southeast Washington, D.C.

Chamber Music Series Begins this Sunday

The Marine Band’s Fall Chamber Music Series will start with a bang on Sunday, Oct. 7 at the John Philip Sousa Band Hall in Washington, D.C. Coordinated by percussionist Master Sgt. Glenn Paulson, the program will be an eclectic mix of percussion, strings, and folk music. The performance will take place at 2 p.m., EDT and will be live

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Meet the Tour Soloists

Mezzo-soprano vocalist and concert moderator Gunnery Sgt. Sara Sheffield joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in May 2005, becoming the first featured female vocal soloist in Marine Band history. She will solo on every single Marine Band tour concert; therefore she has collaborated with Col. Jason K. Fettig to select three different works to perform on the road: Ella Fitzgerald Medley, Selections from Wonderful Town by Leonard Bernstein, and Selections from The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

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2018 National Concert Tour - The 2018 tour will take place from Oct. 2-Nov. 1. The tour area includes southwestern Pennsylvania, Ohio, northern Indiana, northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. All concerts are free ticket distribution methods vary by each city. Generally, tickets are released one month prior to each event. For complete ticket details for each city, visit: http://marineband.ticketleap.com.

A Feast of Harmony on Tour

In 1891 Marine Band Director John Philip Sousa took “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band on tour after receiving permission from President Benjamin Harrison to take the band outside of Washington, D.C. That year the band traveled to 32 cities and towns in New England and the Midwest, beginning a tradition of national concert tours that continues today. Though tour was suspended during the Depression years and World War II, travel resumed in 1946, and this year the band returns to the Midwest on its 100th tour. This fall, the Marine Band will travel 5,882 miles throughout the United States, performing 29 concerts in 12 states, with stops in Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

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On Aug. 29, 2018, a Marine brass quintet participated in the Memorial Unveiling Ceremony for Opha May Johnson at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Johnson was the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps in 1918. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Amanda Simmons/released) - On Aug. 29, 2018, a Marine brass quintet participated in the Memorial Unveiling Ceremony for Opha May Johnson at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Johnson was the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps in 1918. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Amanda Simmons/released)

A Century of Service

Opha May Johnson may not be a household name, but hers is a name etched in the hearts of all current and former women who have served in the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard since 1918. This past August marked the 100th anniversary of the day she stepped forward and became the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, which opened doors and broke barriers to women throughout the sea services.

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Washington, DC - On July 30, 2014, Lt. Col. Jason K. Fettig conducted his first Marine Band Summer Fare concert at the U.S. Capitol. The program featured cornet/trumpet player Gunnery Sgt. Brad Weil performing Kenny Baker's "Virtuosity" and mezzo-soprano vocalist Gunnery Sgt. Sara Dell'Omo singing Stephen Sondheim's "You (I) Could Drive a Person Crazy." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released) - Washington, DC - On July 30, 2014, Lt. Col. Jason K. Fettig conducted his first Marine Band Summer Fare concert at the U.S. Capitol. The program featured cornet/trumpet player Gunnery Sgt. Brad Weil performing Kenny Baker's "Virtuosity" and mezzo-soprano vocalist Gunnery Sgt. Sara Dell'Omo singing Stephen Sondheim's "You (I) Could Drive a Person Crazy." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released)

Final Summer Concerts Pay Tribute to John Glenn and Women Marines

The Marine Band will conclude its summer concert season with concerts honoring Col. John Glenn and 100 years of women Marines. Conducted by Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig, this program includes favorites from the concert band repertoire, with connections that center around a new, original composition by Assistant Director Capt. Ryan Nowlin: God Speed, John Glenn, which pays tribute to the American hero who was a Marine fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, first American to orbit the Earth, and a United States senator for 24 years.

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On July 14, 2016, the Marine Latin Jazz Ensemble performed at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Amanda Simmons/released) - On July 14, 2016, the Marine Latin Jazz Ensemble performed at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Amanda Simmons/released)

Outdoor Concerts Feature Eclectic Mix of Latin Jazz

This week’s outdoor summer concerts will feature the Marine Latin Jazz Ensemble performing at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22 on the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol and at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23 at Pentagon Row in Arlington, Va. Both concerts are free and will feature a mix of Latin jazz styles and composers that will keep the audience grooving in their seats or dancing in the streets.

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On Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, Marine Band administrative clerk Sergeant Kimberly Santiago served as the Marine Barracks Washington non-commissioned officer parade commander. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Rachel Ghadiali/released) - On Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, Marine Band administrative clerk Sergeant Kimberly Santiago served as the Marine Barracks Washington non-commissioned officer parade commander. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Rachel Ghadiali/released)

Marine Band Admin Clerk Serves as Parade Commander

As she drew her sword and belted out commands before the platoons of ceremonial marchers in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, Marine Band administrative clerk Sgt. Kimberly Santiago made history as the first female parade commander of the non-commissioned officer Sunset Parade hosted by Marine Barracks Washington.

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Marine Band on the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol - On Wednesday, June 6, 2018, Assistant Director Captain Bryan Sherlock conducted the Marine Band on the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Rachel Ghadiali/released)

Summer Concerts Feature Music Highlighting the Spirit of America

The Marine Band’s evening summer concerts on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol continue this week with performances at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15 and Thursday, Aug. 16, conducted by Assistant Director Capt. Bryan P. Sherlock. Almost all of the music on the program is by American composers and each selection is an uplifting work that helps fill one with feelings of national pride and hope, including works by such iconic composers as Edwin Franko Goldman, John Philip Sousa, and John Williams. Both concerts are free and open to the public and no tickets are required.

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The Marine Chamber Orchestra performed the concert "Conflicts and Confluences" on Sunday, Feb. 19, at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, including the world premiere of Ken Watson's Bassoon Concerto. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Brian Rust/released) - The Marine Chamber Orchestra performed the concert "Conflicts and Confluences" on Sunday, Feb. 19, at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, including the world premiere of Ken Watson's Bassoon Concerto. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Brian Rust/released)

Final Summer Orchestra Concert Features Dance Music from 17th to 20th Centuries

The Marine Chamber Orchestra will conclude its Summer Orchestra Series with a program of music that dances the gamut from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Conducted by Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig, the concert will showcase trumpet soloist Master Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Harding and pianist Gunnery Sgt. Russell Wilson in André Jolivet’s Concertino for Trumpet. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria.

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On July 15, 2018, the Marine Band's contemporary music ensmble, Free Country performed at PLAY BALL Park in Washington, D.C., as a part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game events. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Amanda Simmons/released) - On July 15, 2018, the Marine Band's contemporary music ensmble, Free Country performed at PLAY BALL Park in Washington, D.C., as a part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game events. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Amanda Simmons/released)

Free Country Performs at Capitol and Glen Echo

The Marine Band’s popular music ensemble, Free Country, will light up the night with a mix of popular music, classics, and country favorites during two concerts this week at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 8, on the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol and at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 9, in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Md.

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U.S. Marine Band Promotes Two of its Own

At a ceremony in John Philip Sousa Band Hall on Aug. 3, Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig promoted two of his leaders: to major, Executive Assistant to the Director Douglas R. Burian and to Operations Officer and the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3, Julia S. Piorkowski.

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