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The highly regarded U.S. Marine Band will perform in New Port Richey on Nov. 3, giving local music lovers a chance to hear the nation's oldest professional music organization.
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 5, 2001
The historic United States Marine Band -- known as "The President's Own" -- is coming to the Center for the Arts at River Ridge on Nov. 3 for one performance. The last time the Marine Band performed at River Ridge was Oct. 25, 1991.
Established by an act of Congress in 1798, the Marine Band is the nation's oldest professional musical organization. Its main mission is to provide music for the president of the United States and the commandant of the Marine Corps.
The band accompanied Abraham Lincoln to Gettysburg when he made his famous Gettysburg Address. It went with Richard Nixon to Yugoslavia and to the Soviet Union. The band has played for every president since John Adams.
Time magazine once wrote, "The U.S. Marine Band (is) a band now judged by experts to be the best the world has ever produced," a sentiment also expressed by reviewers for the Washington Post and the New York Times.
The band has toured the country off and on since 1891, when its then-director, John Philip Sousa, convinced President Benjamin Harrison that the public should hear the band they sponsored and for which they paid. Until then, the band was allowed to leave Washington, D.C., for no more than 24 hours at a time.
In recent years, the 58 musicians and their director, assistant director and support crew have toured about 50 days a year, giving concerts in 45 towns.
They prepare 10 programs of traditional concert band and contemporary wind ensemble music. The River Ridge program is expected to contain several numbers of a patriotic nature, especially in light of recent terrorist attacks.
Most of the band's members are graduates of the nation's top music schools, and nearly 60 percent hold advanced degrees in music. More than 90 percent serve with the Marine Band for 20 years or more.
The concert is free, but everyone who attends must have a ticket.
In order to obtain up to four tickets, you must:
Mail (do not hand carry) the coupon that appears elsewhere in today's Pasco and Hernando Times to: United States Marine Band Tickets, Center for the Arts at River Ridge, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654.
Send the request in time to reach the center by Oct. 15. Requests will be distributed on a first-to-arrive, first-filled basis.
Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope so the tickets can be mailed back to you.
Finally, ticket holders must be in their seats by 7:15 the evening of the concert. No seat-saving will be allowed. No seats are reserved.
Any seats unoccupied at 7:15 p.m. will be offered to those without tickets waiting outside.
WHAT: "The President's Own" United States Marine Band
WHERE: Center for the Arts at River Ridge
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3
TICKETS: Free (limit four)