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thedrifter
09-18-09, 08:51 AM
The sounds of 'Semper Fidelis'
U.S. Marine Band to perform in Grass Valley
By Jeff Ackerman
Editor/Publisher,

‘President's Own' heralded as one of world's best concert bands
Established in 1798 by an Act of Congress signed by President John Adams, the “President's Own” United States Marine Band is coming to Grass Valley Thursday, Oct. 15 for a free concert.

The performance at Nevada Union High School's Ali gymnasium will offer a rare chance to hear a band described by many as among the best in the world, evidenced by its 300 or so White House performances each year and its history of performing at the inauguration of every president since Thomas Jefferson, who claimed the band as his own.

“I would put this band up against any concert band in the world,” said retired Marine Corps Major General and Grass Valley resident Orlo Steele, who commanded the the band from 1981-82 and was instrumental in bringing it to town.

“They will be playing classical, jazz... everything,” Steele said. “Every musician probably plays two to three instruments.”

Band members are recruited from among the best conservatories and universities in the country.

Band members enlist in the President's Own band only,” said Steele. “If they have an opening, 30 to 35 people may try out for that one chair.”

Once selected, the new Marines are enlisted into the band as staff sergeants. There is no boot camp, and all of the military training is done through the Drum Major at the barracks, Steele said.

“But they are Marines,” he said. “The worst thing you could say is that they aren't real Marines ...

“They frequently become career Marines, and maybe 60 percent stay at least 20 years and many for as long as 35 years,” said Steele.

“Marine Band musicians appear at the White House more than 300 times each year,” according to the band's press kit. “Additionally, the Marine Band participates in more than 800 public and official performances annually.”

It has about 165 members (130 of them musicians), including officers, a director, several assistant directors and others who handle logistics. The traveling band that will come to Grass Valley will include about 60 musicians.

In 1891, John Philip Sousa became the band's 17th director and led the band's first national tour. Sousa's “Prince Charming March” will kick off the Oct. 15 performance. Col. Michael J. Colburn is only the band's 27th director over a span that has reached 211 years and counting.

(To contact Editor/Publisher Jeff Ackerman, e-mail jackerman@theunion.com or call 477-4299.)


U.S. Marine Corps Band
The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Nevada Union High School gymnasium

Tickets are available through the Music In The Mountains Ticket Office; call (530) 265-6124. It's sponsored by The Union, Music In The Mountains and Gold Country Marine Corps League, Detachment 885.

http://www.theunion.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TU&Date=20090918&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=909179975&Ref=AR&Profile=1053&MaxW=550&title=1

Ellie