News - Page 28

On Aug. 27, 2014, the Marine Dixieland Band performed at the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The group is comprised of trumpet player Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Orban, clarinet player Gunnery Sgt. Gregory Ridlington, trombone player Staff Sgt. Ryan McGeorge, pianist Gunnery Sgt. Russell Wilson, guitar player Gunnery Sgt. Alan Prather, drummer Master Sgt. David Murray, sousaphone player Gunnery Sgt. Mark Thiele, and guest clarinetist Master Sgt. Jihoon Chang. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released) - On Aug. 27, 2014, the Marine Dixieland Band performed at the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The group is comprised of trumpet player Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Orban, clarinet player Gunnery Sgt. Gregory Ridlington, trombone player Staff Sgt. Ryan McGeorge, pianist Gunnery Sgt. Russell Wilson, guitar player Gunnery Sgt. Alan Prather, drummer Master Sgt. David Murray, sousaphone player Gunnery Sgt. Mark Thiele, and guest clarinetist Master Sgt. Jihoon Chang. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released)

Marine Dixieland Band Performs Porgy and Bess

In 1935, George Gershwin’s folk opera Porgy and Bess premièred in Boston before moving to Broadway in New York City. Despite its initial lukewarm reception, the opera eventually gained new popularity and is now one of the best-known and most frequently performed operas in the world.

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In Fall 2016, Steven Kaplan of New City, N.Y., contacted the Marine Band about donating a tour poster. The poster, which he found in an attic, was from the Oct. 7, 1961, tour concert in the neighboring town of Pearl River, N.Y. - In Fall 2016, Steven Kaplan of New City, N.Y., contacted the Marine Band about donating a tour poster. The poster, which he found in an attic, was from the Oct. 7, 1961, tour concert in the neighboring town of Pearl River, N.Y. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Brian Rust/released)

New Library Acquisitions

The Marine Band Library and Archives is one of the nation’s oldest and largest performing music libraries, with holdings exceeding 100,000 music titles for band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, dance band, and piano. Some of this music dates back to 1860, but there are more historic holdings than just these scores. The repository is host to a number of important artifacts, including those in the collection of former Director John Philip Sousa. This spring, three new items were added to the archives.

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On Aug. 16-17, French horn player Staff Sgt. Cecelia Buettgen will make her solo debut with the Marine Band when she performs Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, Opus 11. The concerts, conducted by Assistant Director Major Michelle Rakers, will take place at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol and 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17 at the Sylvan Theater, on the Washington Monument grounds. - On Aug. 16-17, French horn player Staff Sgt. Cecelia Buettgen will make her solo debut with the Marine Band when she performs Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, Opus 11. The concerts, conducted by Assistant Director Major Michelle Rakers, will take place at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol and 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17 at the Sylvan Theater, on the Washington Monument grounds.

Marine Band French Horn Player Makes Solo Debut with Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1

On Aug. 16-17, French horn player Staff Sgt. Cecelia Buettgen will make her solo debut with the Marine Band when she performs Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, Opus 11. The concerts, conducted by Assistant Director Major Michelle Rakers, will take place at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol and 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17 at the Sylvan Theater, on the Washington Monument grounds. The program is free and will also include works by Carl Maria von Weber, Bedrich Smetana, Frank Ticheli, Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne, and John Philip Sousa.

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On June 8, 2016, the Marine Band performed a concert at the U.S. Capitol featuring works by Sousa, Copland, and more. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Ghadiali/released) - On June 8, 2016, the Marine Band performed a concert at the U.S. Capitol featuring works by Sousa, Copland, and more. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Ghadiali/released)

Concerts Feature Circus March, Cowboys Overture, and Soloists

This week the Marine Band’s summer concert series continues with a musical tribute to the circus and cowboys with Karl L. King’s march “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite” and John Williams’ The Cowboys Overture. Conducted by Assistant Director Capt. Ryan J. Nowlin, the performances will take place at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 9 at the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol and 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 10 at the Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

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The Marine Band will perform outdoor summer concerts Wednesday, Aug. 2 and Thursday, Aug. 3, at 8 p.m. on the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol. (USMC photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released) - The Marine Band will perform outdoor summer concerts Wednesday, Aug. 2 and Thursday, Aug. 3, at 8 p.m. on the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol. (USMC photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released)

Concerts Feature American Salute and Works by John Williams

This week the Marine Band’s summer concert series continues with an American salute and music by John Williams, one of the most popular and successful American composers of the modern age. Conducted by Assistant Director Maj. Michelle A. Rakers, the performances will take place at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 3 at the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol.

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Baton given to John Philip Sousa by the members of the Marine Band upon his retirement in 1892. The baton has become a symbol of the Marine Band Directorate and has been traditionally passed from Director to Director in every Change of Command ceremony. - Baton given to John Philip Sousa by the members of the Marine Band upon his retirement in 1892. The baton has become a symbol of the Marine Band Directorate and has been traditionally passed from Director to Director in every Change of Command ceremony.

125th Anniversary of a Genuine Article

There is no item in the Marine Band’s archives that is more unique, treasured, symbolic, and slightly shrouded in mystery than the revered Sousa baton. July 29 marks the 125th anniversary of the day Marine Band musicians presented 17th Director and “March King” John Philip Sousa with the gold tipped baton on the occasion of his final concert with “The President’s Own.” The baton is now used in Marine Band change of command ceremonies when the retiring Director passes the baton to the newly appointed Director, as most recently as July 12, 2014, when 28th Director Lt. Col. Jason K. Fettig accepted the baton from Col. Michael J. Colburn, USMC (ret.).

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The Marine Chamber Orchestra performed its final 2016 Summer Series concert on Aug. 20, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va., featuring music by John Ireland, James Cohn, and Sir Hubert H. Parry. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Rust/released) - The Marine Chamber Orchestra performed its final 2016 Summer Series concert on Aug. 20, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va., featuring music by John Ireland, James Cohn, and Sir Hubert H. Parry. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Rust/released)

No Baton? No Problem!

The Marine Chamber Orchestra’s Saturday, July 29 performance will include all of the usual details: a friendly public affairs specialist handing out programs in the lobby, creative programming, and sharply dressed musicians in splendid red uniforms performing at the top of their game. But patrons will definitely notice what is missing: a conductor waving a baton. The concert will instead be led by the orchestra’s Concertmaster Staff Sgt. Karen Johnson. She joined “The President’s Own” in 2011 and was appointed to her position in October 2015, after having served as Concertmaster of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and guest concertmaster of the Seattle, Oregon, and Phoenix Symphonies.

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Gunnery Sergeants Alan Prather and Brian Turnmire perform with Free Country, the Marine Band's contemporary country music ensemble, on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Rust/released) - Gunnery Sergeants Alan Prather and Brian Turnmire perform with Free Country, the Marine Band's contemporary country music ensemble, on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Rust/released)

Free Country Performs at Capitol and Glen Echo

The Marine Band’s popular music ensemble, Free Country, will offer a second set of performances for the summer concert season with concerts at 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 26, on the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol and at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 27, in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Md. The 10-piece band features modern and classic commercial hits including songs from the 1960s to the present from the genres of pop, rock, R&B, and country by such recording artists as Lee Greenwood, Van Halen, Marc Cohn, Tina Turner, Barry White, Frankie Ballard, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

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On June 7, 2017, the Marine Band performed a summer concert at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The program included Sousa's march, "Manhattan Beach," Sparke's Pantomime, King's march, "The Melody Shop," and a medley of Johnny Mercer songs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released) - On June 7, 2017, the Marine Band performed a summer concert at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The program included Sousa's march, "Manhattan Beach," Sparke's Pantomime, King's march, "The Melody Shop," and a medley of Johnny Mercer songs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released)

Concerts Feature Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald Medleys

This week the Marine Band’s summer concert series continues with a salute to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, two of the most legendary and influential figures in jazz. Conducted by Assistant Director Capt. Ryan J. Nowlin, the performances will take place at 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 19 and 8 p.m., Thursday, July 20 at the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol.

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A Marine Jazz Ensemble from "The President's Own" performed an eclectic mix of jazz standards for visitors during the afternoon of July 2 at the National Museum of American History. (USMC photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Rust/released) - A Marine Jazz Ensemble from "The President's Own" performed an eclectic mix of jazz standards for visitors during the afternoon of July 2 at the National Museum of American History. (USMC photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Rust/released)

Marine Jazz Ensemble and Marine Brass Quintet at the Museum of American History

This July, ensembles from the Marine Band will return to the Museum of American History as part of the Smithsonian museum’s Star-Spangled American Music Series to perform short, daytime concerts in the museum’s Flag Hall, just inside the main entrance. Each ensemble will perform three 30-minute concerts at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. on their respective days. The first group to perform is a Marine Jazz Ensemble performing on Thursday, July 13.

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On July 27, 2016, the Marine Band performed a Summer Fare concert at the U.S. Capitol. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released) - On July 27, 2016, the Marine Band performed a Summer Fare concert at the U.S. Capitol. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released)

Sinatra, Sousa, and Bernstein, Oh My!

The Marine Band’s summer concert series continues this week with back to back performances at 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 12 and 8 p.m., Thursday, July 13 at the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Conducted by Assistant Director Maj. Michelle A. Rakers, the program is a perfect blend of what patrons might hear on a country bandstand in America’s heartland: George Whitefield Chadwick’s “Jubilee” from Symphonic Sketches; Sir Dean Goffin’s cornet solo “Victorious;” Ryan George’s Firefly; Leonard Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from On the Town; Richard Wagner’s “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” from Lohengrin; Ol’ Blue Eyes: The Hits of Frank Sinatra medley; and John Philip Sousa’s march “The Belle of Chicago.”

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