While some people may tire of their job after only a few weeks or months, Colonel Michael J. Colburn is still enjoying his career with "The President's Own" United States Marine Band after more than two decades.
"It's really a job that never gets old," Colburn said in a telephone interview Thursday morning.
He is the 27th director of the band. During his 21-year career, Col Colburn has served "The President's Own" as principal euphonium, assistant director, and since July 2004, the director.He was promoted to his present rank on July 3, 2007, by President George W. Bush in an Oval Office ceremony.
As director of "The President's Own," Colburn is music advisor to the White House, regularly conducts the Marine band at the executive mansion, and directs the band at presidential inaugurations. He also serves as music director of Washington's Gridiron Club, a position traditionally held by the director of the Marine Band, and in 2006 was elected to the American Bandmasters Association.
The Marine band will be in concert Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Tiger Den at Warsaw Community High School.
The concert is free, however, tickets are required. People may request up to four tickets each by either stopping in at the WCHS Performing Arts Center Box Office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or sending a request to: The Marine Band, Warsaw Community High School, 1 Tiger Lane, Warsaw, IN 46580.
Colburn joined the band in 1987 as a euphonium player. He said performing is pretty exciting for all the band members, but especially when they're on tour, performing in front of crowds who never saw the band before.
Like any performing group, Colburn said, the band has a symbiotic relationship with the crowd. They feed off the energy of each other, making performances fresh and exciting.
On tour, there are certain pieces the band does for every show, like "Stars & Stripes," Colburn said. People expect to hear those certain selections. However, he said, the band also tries to do new and fresh material not only for the audiences' enjoyment, but also to challenge the musicians. Concerts also may highlight a soloist to engage the crowd.
"It's all about the musicians really," Colburn said. "I feel the conductor is just along for the ride."
The best part of his job, he said, is getting to work with the talented musicians.
In July 2003, in celebration of the Marine Band's 205th anniversary, he brought to the podium renowned conductor and Academy-Award winning film composer John Williams, who led the Marine band for a gala performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
In the past five years, Colburn said, Williams conducted the Marine band twice. Williams personally selected the Marine band for his induction into the Kennedy Center Honors. That performance, Colburn said, was nerve-wracking, but spectacular. Nervous energy can make a person's performance even better, he said. That night was no exception.
Colburn also has worked to expand the Marine band's educational outreach efforts by increasing master classes at schools throughout the nation during the band's annual concert tour. He also initiated Music in the High Schools, a program that sends musicians from "The President's Own" to perform in Washington, D.C., area high schools.
The band last stopped in Warsaw about five years ago. The band is only stopping in Indiana three times this year. They were at Ball State University, Muncie, Tuesday; Purdue University, Wednesday; and will be in Warsaw Oct. 20.
The Marine band has three different programs for their tour. For the Oct. 20 Warsaw stop, Colburn said, the band will be "doing a little bit of everything, which is often the case."
The principle trombonist will be featured in the show to display what he can do. A "very talented" vocal soloists will perform works by Stephen Sondheim, Colburn said, which seems to be going over well in their performances to date. The band also will feature an overture by Gustav Holst and music by John Philip Sousa, including some of Sousa's marches. Williams' work, including music from the movie "Jaws," also will be performed.
"When we set up our concert program, we want to make sure there's a little something for everyone," said Colburn.
"We have fond memories of our last time in Warsaw," Colburn said, "and we look forward to playing there again."
