One of the nation’s finest military musical ensembles will perform in a free concert at SUNY Fredonia when Rockefeller Arts Center presents “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in King Concert Hall.
The Fredonia performance will be the fourth stop on the ensemble’s October tour. Other performances include Carnegie Hall in New York City, Symphony Hall in Boston and the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, N.Y.
In addition, Director of Bands Paula Holcomb has been invited to serve as a guest conductor for a portion of the program.
“It is a real honor to be included on the same tour as these other prestigious halls,” said Jefferson Westwood, director of Rockefeller Arts Center.
While the concert is free, tickets are required. They may be obtained at the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center.
The United States Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. “The President’s Own” is celebrated today for its role at the White House and its dynamic public performances, which total more than 500 annually.
The band’s repertoire ranges from John Phillips Sousa favorites like “Stars and Stripes Forever” to the “Marines Hymn” to Warren Benson’s “The Leaves are Falling.”
This 42-piece ensemble was established by an Act of Congress in 1798. Its mission is unique — to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Marine Band musicians appear at the White House an average of 200 times a year with performances at state dinners, receptions, South Lawn arrivals and events of national significance.
Given its status among American musical organizations, “The President’s Own” continues to attract prominent guest conductors from major orchestras around the globe, including Osmo Vänskä, Leonard Slatkin, José Serebrier and Gerard Schwarz. On July 12, 2003, the Marine Band returned to the Kennedy Center to celebrate its 205th anniversary in a concert featuring guest conductor John Williams, renowned composer of American film and concert works and laureate conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra.
Each fall, the Marine Band travels throughout the United States for its annual concert tour, a tradition initiated in 1891 by Sousa, who was the band’s legendary 17th director.
The Oct. 5 performance is sponsored by The Observer and The Post-Journal in cooperation with WDOE and 96 KIX Country.
