AMHERST, Mass. — For the first time in five years, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, directed by Col. Jason Fettig, will return to UMass Amherst on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. as part of their current Northeast tour. The concert, which will take place in the Frederick C. Tillis Performance Hall, is free and open to the public. Advance tickets can be reserved by visiting the Fine Arts Center Box Office or by calling 413-545-2511 (limit 4 tickets per request). The Marine Band’s appearance at UMass is sponsored by the Department of Music and Dance and UMass Fine Arts Center.

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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.

Col. Fettig earned a B.M. in clarinet performance from UMass in 1997 and second B.M. in music education with an emphasis in conducting in 1998. His primary teachers were Malcolm W. Rowell, Michael Sussman and Mark Russell Smith. The concert marks Fettig’s second performance at his alma mater since being named U.S. Marine Band Director in 2014. The Band also includes two Western Massachusetts natives - Master Sgts. David Jenkins ‘96 (saxophone) of Williamstown and William Bernier (clarinet) of Easthampton. 

Fettig has programmed musical selections in the style of the band’s 17th director, John Philip Sousa, who initiated the concert tour tradition in 1891. Concertgoers can expect a mix of works including traditional band repertoire, Sousa marches, contemporary compositions, vocal and instrumental solos and a patriotic salute to the Armed Forces. During the show, music and dance department chair and wind studies director Matthew Westgate will be invited to guest conduct one of the works on the band’s program.

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“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,” Fettig said.

The Frederick C. Tillis Performance Hall is located in the Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst MA. Free and secure parking is available in nearby University lot 71 off Massachusetts Avenue and lot 62 via Thatcher Way or Stockbridge Road. 

Visit the Fine Arts Center website for more information or refer to the UMass interactive parking map. All visitors must follow established safety protocols set forth by UMass and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Please note: 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.