On July 12, 2014, the Marine Band performed a Change of Command Concert conducted by retiring Director Col. Michael J. Colburn, former Director Col. Timothy W. Foley, and incoming Director Lt. Col. Jason K. Fettig. The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos officiated Col. Colburn’s retirement ceremony and was assisted by Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Micheal P. Barrett and Marine Band Drum Major Gunnery Sgt. Duane F. King. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Kristin duBois/released)

As part of its 2017 national concert tour, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band will perform at 7:30 P.M., Saturday, October 7, at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. The concert, sponsored by The Buffalo News, is free and open to the public.

Free tickets are available (limit four per request) by visiting the Shea’s Buffalo theatre box office. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket holders must be seated by 7:15 P.M.; non-ticket holders will be admitted at that time.

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.”

By the end of the tour, the Marine Band will have traveled 2,551 miles throughout the northeast, performing 28 concerts in 10 states, with stops in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware.

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 primary mission is to provide music for the President of the United States and
the Commandant of the Marine Corps.