thedrifter
01-20-09, 06:40 AM
History, with musical accompaniment
Local man will perform at fourth inauguration
by Marshall White
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Being around the president is still exciting but nothing unusual for this 1983 Central High School graduate who will attend his fourth inauguration today in Washington, D.C.
Gunnery Sgt. Miles C. Smith is a saxophonist playing in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band since 1995.
His day will begin with preparations for marching in the Inaugural Parade and performing the works of John Philip Sousa and traditional marches.
“These events are always cold, but we’re used to dealing with that,” Mr. Smith said.
Even though he’s played Sousa many times before, Mr. Smith said, a musician still has to make sure he knows the nuances of each tune because millions will be watching the performance.
There will be a 30-minute concert for the public before the swearing-in ceremony. The band will be seated immediately below the platform where President Obama stands.
“It’s like being a part of history,” Mr. Smith said.
Duties with the band include providing music at the White House.
“We perform a lot and President Bush was friendly and cordial when he’d talk with band members,” Mr. Smith said.
Members of the band perform more than 300 times a year during arrival ceremonies, state dinners and receptions at the White House. In addition, band members perform at more than 500 public and official performances annually in the Washington area.
That means a wide variety of music, which keeps the creative juices flowing, Mr. Smith said.
One of the more exciting musical events for Mr. Smith was playing several years ago at the Kennedy Center with John Williams conducting. The band gets some overseas assignments, too. The last trip required the sergeant to travel to Switzerland for a music festival.
Mr. Smith earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has been a music instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Mid-America Nazarene College in Olathe, Kan., and Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan. The sergeant also toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra throughout the U.S. and Japan before joining the Marines.
Max and Mabel Smith are the sergeant’s parents. The senior Mr. Smith, who owns Smith’s Band Instrument Repair on St. Joseph Avenue, has a lot in common with his son. He’s a saxophone player and a former band teacher.
His mother, an accomplished pianist, encouraged her son to pursue a musical career. He makes it home as often as he can and visited with his parents this summer.
“With 14 years in the band, time has gone by quickly,” Miles Smith said. The Marine re-enlisted for six more years this fall.
Marshall White can be reached
at marshall@npgco.com.
Ellie
Local man will perform at fourth inauguration
by Marshall White
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Being around the president is still exciting but nothing unusual for this 1983 Central High School graduate who will attend his fourth inauguration today in Washington, D.C.
Gunnery Sgt. Miles C. Smith is a saxophonist playing in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band since 1995.
His day will begin with preparations for marching in the Inaugural Parade and performing the works of John Philip Sousa and traditional marches.
“These events are always cold, but we’re used to dealing with that,” Mr. Smith said.
Even though he’s played Sousa many times before, Mr. Smith said, a musician still has to make sure he knows the nuances of each tune because millions will be watching the performance.
There will be a 30-minute concert for the public before the swearing-in ceremony. The band will be seated immediately below the platform where President Obama stands.
“It’s like being a part of history,” Mr. Smith said.
Duties with the band include providing music at the White House.
“We perform a lot and President Bush was friendly and cordial when he’d talk with band members,” Mr. Smith said.
Members of the band perform more than 300 times a year during arrival ceremonies, state dinners and receptions at the White House. In addition, band members perform at more than 500 public and official performances annually in the Washington area.
That means a wide variety of music, which keeps the creative juices flowing, Mr. Smith said.
One of the more exciting musical events for Mr. Smith was playing several years ago at the Kennedy Center with John Williams conducting. The band gets some overseas assignments, too. The last trip required the sergeant to travel to Switzerland for a music festival.
Mr. Smith earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has been a music instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Mid-America Nazarene College in Olathe, Kan., and Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan. The sergeant also toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra throughout the U.S. and Japan before joining the Marines.
Max and Mabel Smith are the sergeant’s parents. The senior Mr. Smith, who owns Smith’s Band Instrument Repair on St. Joseph Avenue, has a lot in common with his son. He’s a saxophone player and a former band teacher.
His mother, an accomplished pianist, encouraged her son to pursue a musical career. He makes it home as often as he can and visited with his parents this summer.
“With 14 years in the band, time has gone by quickly,” Miles Smith said. The Marine re-enlisted for six more years this fall.
Marshall White can be reached
at marshall@npgco.com.
Ellie