Washington, DC -- This Sunday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m., “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band presents the unique concert “Something Old, Something New.” Featuring the conducting talents of both Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig and newly-appointed Assistant Director 1st Lt. Darren Y. Lin, this concert marks Lin’s Marine Band conducting debut. Learn more about Lin’s journey to the podium.
This performance marks the third concert of the 2022 season, and will take place at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria. This is a free, non-ticketed event.
Program and Notes
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“We've selected pieces that encapsulate our unique artistic legacy, from staples of the repertoire to brand new works celebrating how American music has evolved over the years," Lin said. "We've also managed to mirror that on the podium, with the Colonel taking the first half and myself conducting the second.”
A highlight of the concert is the world première of David Froom’s Three Fantasy Dances: Concerto for Wind Ensemble, a piece written especially for the Marine Band.
“Three Fantasy Dances reflects my fascination with the diminishing gaps between various styles of music—both within the ‘modern classical music’ community and in the wider world generally,” Froom said. “I revel in a world where the new can embrace any aspect of a readily available past.”
According to the composer, Three Fantasy Dances began as a chamber work, commissioned by the audience members of the 21st Century Consort in honor of that group’s 25th anniversary season. It was later recast and reworked into its current form as a concerto for a wind ensemble, “...written for and dedicated with admiration to Col. Jason Fettig and the men and women of ‘The President’s Own’ United States Marine Band.”
Additional program highlights include Suite from The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky, and Amen! by Carlos Simon.
“The Firebird is a piece that has always been near and dear to my heart,” Lin said. “I have many fond memories of it as a player, so I'm excited to experience it from the other side. Amen! is a piece written by Carlos Simon, the current composer-in-residence for the Kennedy Center, and I love his unique voice and ability to bring so many different types of American music to the concert stage.”
Also on the program is John Philip Sousa’s march, “Pride of the Wolverines,” a not-so-subtle nod to Lin’s alma mater, the University of Michigan.
“How could I be one of the directors of the Marine Band without programming Sousa for my first concert?” Lin said.
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center is located at 4915 East Campus Drive in Alexandria, VA. Free parking is available in the adjacent garage. Please note that masks and COVID vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours are required for all in-person concerts. All programs are subject to change.