Musicians of “The President’s Own” will kick off the 2022 Chamber Music Series this Sunday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. (ET) with an eclectic mix of chamber music featuring both new and familiar works. The program will feature a variety of ensembles, including a trombone quartet, clarinet and strings, a brass quintet, and a string quartet. Please note that seating is limited and masks, as well as COVID vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours, are required for this concert. The performance will also livestream on youtube.com/usmarineband and facebook.com/marineband.

PROGRAM

“I decided on these works for the recital by trying to find repertoire to showcase the talents of my colleagues,” said Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Brady, the concert coordinator. “While crafting my program, the thought kept occurring to me, ‘this person or group would sound great on this!’ and I tried to make sure I felt that way about every piece and group that I programmed.”

The concert will include Derek Bourgeois’ Trombone Quartet, a work Brady has long wanted to perform; a collection of songs by Venetian composer Barbara Strozzi originally composed for five voices and transcribed for brass quintet; and Antonín Dvořák’s monumental String Quartet No. 12 in F, Opus 96, American.

One of the highlights of the program is the world première of clarinetist Staff Sgt. Parker Gaims’ Adagio for Clarinet and Strings. Gaims composed the work in the summer of 2020 when the world was experiencing a rapid surge of COVID-19 cases. “The piece is not explicitly about the pandemic,” Gaims remarked. “However, the music should not be considered in isolation from my perception of the effects of the pandemic on the world around me. … Given the nature of the pandemic, musicians have often had to be patient in order to collaborate with one another safely in person. I am grateful and excited to perform with my colleagues and share my music with an audience.”

“A première is always exciting, but it’s even more special when the performer and composer is a friend,” Brady added. “My hope is that the audience thoroughly enjoys all of these amazing works, and the performances by my colleagues in ‘The Presidents’ Own.’”

The concert, which will take place at John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex in southeast Washington, DC, is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the gated lot under the 695 overpass. Please allow extra time for ID checks at the gate.