U.S. Marine Band Performs for Flat Sousa and the Urbana-Champaign Community

(Top left to right) Leslye Barrett [oboe], Trevor Mowry [oboe], and Joseph DeLuccio [oboe/English horn] and (Bottom left to right) Jane Cross [Chief Librarian], Amy Horn [French Horn], Brandon Eubank [trumpet], Christopher Tiedeman [tuba], Charles Casey [trombone], and Michael Mergen [trumpet]

The members of the “Presidents Own” spent Monday afternoon with the music students of the Urbana Middle and High School bands, and the students and faculty of the University of Illinois’ School of Music, University Library, and Sousa Archives and Center for American Music.   Not wishing to miss an opportunity to view a portion of the “March King’s large collection of original music manuscripts which had been donated to the University in 1932 by the Sousa estate, several members of the U.S. Marine Band and their Chief Librarian received a guided tour of the Sousa Archives collections.  They also provided a master class on brass chamber repertoire, and gave an engaging presentation on the work of the band’s music librarians.  That evening the ensemble, under the direction of Lt. Colonel Jason K. Fettig and 1st Lieutenant Ryan J. Nowlin, performed an exceptional concert at the Urbana Middle School that reflected the continuation of Sousa’s musical legacy and earned the band multiple standing ovations from the audience.  Flat Sousa could not have been prouder last night.