'The President's Own' U.S. Marine Band Performs at Alberta Bair Theater

By: Oct. 02, 2018
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'The President's Own' U.S. Marine Band Performs at Alberta Bair Theater Alberta Bair Theater is proud to welcome "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, making a stop during its 2018 national concert tour, on Tuesday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. This is a FREE community event.

Seating is general admission and those holding tickets will be seated first. Doors open at 6:30 with seating beginning at 6:45 p.m. At 7:15 p.m. no ticket is required and all are welcome based on seating availability. Tickets are available (limit four per request) at the ABT Box Office at 2801 Third Avenue North in Downtown Billings.

In the style of the band's 17th Director John Philip Sousa, who initiated the concert tour tradition in 1891, Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig has chosen a diverse mix of programs¾from traditional band repertoire and Sousa marches to instrumental solos and a salute to the Armed Forces.

"We always try to highlight music on our programs that celebrates the region we are visiting, whether it be marches that provide a connection or folk music that might be associated with certain areas of the country," said Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig. "We have tremendously appreciative patrons who come to Marine Band concerts for all types of different experiences, so our programs are designed to include a great variety of music that mirrors the wonderful diversity in our national musical heritage."

After Sousa left the Marine Band in 1892, "The President's Own" made only five tours-1901, 1907, 1911, 1912, and 1915-before traveling yearly between 1920 and 1931. The band suspended its tours during the Depression years of 1932-1934, but took to the road again in 1935 and continued until 1942. During World War II, the band played many additional performances in Washington, D.C., and at the White House to boost wartime morale. The Marine Band's national concert tours resumed in 1946 and have continued every year since. The year 2018 marks the Marine Band's 100th national concert tour.

By the end of the tour, the Marine Band will have traveled 5,882 miles throughout the United States, performing 29 concerts in 12 states, with stops in Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

The Marine Band is America's oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Founded in 1798, the band has performed for every U.S. President since John Adams. Known as "The President's Own" since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band's mission is to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

 

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