America’s oldest continuously active professional music organization, the United States Marine Band, will perform its unique blend of traditional concert pieces and contemporary wind ensemble music at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 

The free event is presented by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech’s School of Performing Arts and will be held in the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Moss Arts Center’s Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. 

Established in 1798 by an Act of Congress, the United States Marine Band made its White House debut on New Year’s Day, 1801. The ensemble has performed at the inauguration of every president since Thomas Jefferson, who is credited with giving the band the title, “The President’s Own.”

In 1891 legendary director John Philip Sousa led the Marine Band’s first concert tour, and the band has performed in communities large and small for more than 100 years for people of all ages and musical tastes.

For their performance, the band will perform two selections from Sousa, including “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” as well as pieces from Aaron Copland, Ryan George, and Gioachino Rossini.

Prior to the performance on Sept. 17, Virginia Tech’s Highty-Tighties and the Marching Virginians will perform a free concert live on the Moss Arts Center lawn, weather permitting. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the two university bands will play a variety of Virginia Tech favorites, patriotic tunes, and highlights from the 2015 football season.

The United States Marine Band musicians will lead master classes with Virginia Tech music students on Friday, Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m. in the Squires Student Center. The classes are free and open to the public and will focus on flute, clarinet, horn, low brass, percussion, and piano. 

Tickets

The performance is free, but tickets are required.  Tickets are limited to four per order and can be obtained online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300. Please note that patrons must take their seats for the performance by 7:15 p.m., or their tickets will be released to walk-up patrons. For security purposes, large bags are not permitted.

Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Virginia Tech faculty and staff possessing a valid Virginia Tech parking permit can enter and exit the garage free of charge. Limited street parking is also available. Parking on Alumni Mall is free on weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Kacy McAllister at 540-231-5300 or email kmcallis@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech presents renowned artists from around the globe and from close to home, with a special focus on experiences that expand cultural awareness and deepen understanding. The Center for the Arts and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, with which the Center for the Arts is uniquely partnered, are housed in the Moss Arts Center. The Moss Arts Center is a 147,000-square-foot facility that includes the Street and Davis Performance Hall and its 1,274-seat Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre; visual art galleries; the four-story, experimental venue the Cube; and research studios.

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