Marine Barracks Annex, Washington, D.C. -- This evening “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band will perform its final concert of the summer, closing the summer season of its 225th Anniversary year. Conducted by Marine Band Director Colonel Jason K. Fettig, the free concert starts at 7 p.m. at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., and will take place rain or shine. The band will perform patriotic marches as well as powerful wind band selections with something for everyone to enjoy, with music that highlights the remarkable virtuosity and diverse skill of the Marine Band musicians.
“Marine Band summer concerts harken back to the very beginnings of our history and connection with the public,” Fettig said. “The band gave its first public performances in Washington, D.C., in the early 1800s, and that tradition of sharing live performances outside at some of the most iconic places in the city continues unbroken to this day.”
He continued, “The National Museum of the Marine Corps is one of the best museums in the country. It is a beautiful homage to our Corps and those who have served through its long history. Music has been central to the Corps for nearly its entire history, so to be able to bring music to the museum to help illuminate its marvelous architecture and exhibits is a wonderful and meaningful experience.”
The program begins with John Philip Sousa’s march, “Semper Fidelis,” and includes music attendees will find patriotic and emotionally meaningful. According to Fettig, “there are important military connections, including music for our Marine Corps, and a special march performed in honor of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, entitled ‘Black Granite’ inspired by the Vietnam memorial.”
In addition, the band will perform entertaining solos to include a medley of songs from “The Great American Songbook” and one of the most recognizable pieces that most people have heard on piano: Chopsticks! Soloist Master Sgt. Kenneth Wolin will perform the piece which was arranged for xylophone by former Marine Band percussionist Charlie Owen, who was a member of the band from 1934-1954. Owen performed 124 solos throughout his career—of all these, he performed Chopsticks with the band 51 times.
“My very first xylophone solo in public was at a Charlie Owen Masterclass in 1979 when I was 12 years old,” Wolin said. “He made such a lasting impression on me that I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I feel very humbled and blessed after 25 years with ‘The President’s Own’ to have the opportunity to perform this piece.”
The concert will conclude with the country’s national march, “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” by John Philip Sousa. This will be the last time Fettig conducts a summer concert, as he prepares to retire from the Marine Band in January 2024.
“I will deeply miss performing with my colleagues in the band once I retire, and especially sharing the stage for these summer concerts we perform each year,” Fettig said. “My very first concert conducting the Marine Band in 2001 was on the Capitol steps, and I will never forget that experience. To have my final summer concert with ‘The President’s Own’ now happen in front of the National Museum of the Marine Corps is such an honor, and it will be a memory that I will cherish forever.”
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