`The President's Own'; The Marine Band's history is a long and honorable one.

Byline: Richard Duckett

When you're a musician with the "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, it could just be that you'll run into a president or two.

Col. Michael J. Colburn recalled that when he was an assistant director of the band during President Clinton's administration, the group was putting on a performance at the White House that included English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams' English Folk Song Suite. Colburn was watching the performance from the wings when he said he felt someone tugging at his sleeve. It was President Clinton, who told Colburn that the suite was one of his favorite pieces of music. Clinton then went into great detail in describing the composition. "The details were quite outstanding," Colburn said. "It reminded me that you never know who's listening."

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band was established by an act of Congress in 1798, making it America's oldest professional musical organization. Which can mean that when the band gives concerts, people listening have certain expectations, acknowledged Colburn, the band's 27th director. "Because we're such a historic institution there is an expectation that we're going to perform a lot of music from our past," he said. "But we don't want our band to be a museum piece."

So yes, there will be the marches of John Philip Sousa when the band performs at Mechanics Hall at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22. But there will also be a new arrangement of Bernard Herrmarn's Academy Award-winning score for the movie "The Devil and Daniel Webster."

"It's very charming music," Colburn said of the arrangement. In fact, the concert will "have something for everyone." It's all part of the band staying contemporary and keeping its music making interesting, while at the same time recognizing the organization's heritage, Colburn said.

Speaking of heritage, the band's appearance here is being presented by Mechanics Hall as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations. Playing Sousa will have a particular significance since the legendary band man led his own band at the hall on several occasions. Sousa was also a director of the United States Marine Band from 1880 to 1892.

By that time, the band had long been designated "The President's Own," a title bestowed by President Jefferson.

The title means that the Washington, D.C.-based band's primary mission is to provide music for the White House and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Colburn explained. At the White House, the Marines perform for a wide variety of ceremonies and social functions, and an ensemble can range from one musician to a band of 60 to 70 (70 musicians will be coming to Mechanics Hall). Colburn said "most of the guidance" about programming comes from the social secretary of the White House.

The band also tours, and is currently on a Northeastern swing. Colburn was being interviewed during a stop in Jamestown, N.Y.

"The President's Own" has no tactical or combat mission. However, a new band member signs a standard four-year enlistment contract and reports directly to the Marine barracks in Washington, D.C., for a four- to six-week period of military instruction.

Why would a musician join the Marines?

"It's a musical organization that has an outstanding musical reputation, and that's what attracts musicians to our organization," Colburn said.

"What surprises many people is they join because of the music but they stay because of a sense of loyalty and dedication to the Marine Corps. There is an ethos in the Marine Corps of absolute dedication that our musicians can relate to."

Colburn, 43 and married with two children, joined "The President's Own" in 1987. He grew up in St. Albans, Vt., where his father was a band director. No doubt inspired by his father, he took to brass instruments from an early age and developed a fondness for playing the euphonium. He studied the euphonium at Arizona State University in Tempe and graduated with a degree in music performance.

After joining the "President's Own" he rose steadily through the ranks, becoming an assistant director in 1996, senior assistant director and executive officer in 2001, and director in 2004.

The band only promotes from within, and has several assistant directors who work very closely with the director, Colburn said. So when he took over (his appointment is open-ended) as director, "there was very little need for course correction."

Asked how the band gets on with other branches of the Marine Corps, he replied, "We actually get along very well. There's always a certain amount of lack of knowledge of what musicians do, but my impression is we end up with a great deal of respect because of the way our musicians do our job."

Like his predecessors, Colburn constantly commissions new works from composers. "But there are certainly times when our audience needs patriotic music more than others," he said. "The most striking example of that was after 9-11."

The band was on its fall tour ...

"At first audiences were small as there was a fear of congregating together," he said. That would change.

"Then it became incredible - it seemed to have a cathartic effect. And that is a tour I'll never forget."

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`The President's Own' United States Marine Band

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22.

Where: Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester.

How much: Free, but tickets are required. To reserve tickets call [phone].

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ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Col. Michael J. Colburn, above, director of ``The President's Own'' United States Marine Band. (2) John Phillip Sousa, a director of the United States Marine Band from 1880 to 1892.