“A Conversation with Col. Jason Fettig of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band”
About the U.S. Marine Band:
Established by an Act of Congress in 1798, the United States Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Its mission is unique—to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Information about the session: This is the first session in the ACB Conversations series. ACB President Gail Brechting will chat with Col. Jason Fettig of the United States Marine Band to learn about the Marine Band’s role in Presidential Events, the challenges of their role during the pandemic and getting back to normal. They will go behind the scenes of the 2021 Inauguration and other Presidential events.
Colonel Jason K. Fettig is the 28th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. He joined in 1997 as a clarinetist and soon became a frequently featured soloist with both the band and the Marine Chamber Orchestra. After serving four years in the organization, he was selected as an Assistant Director, and he conducted his first concert with the Marine Band
Aug. 1, 2001. He was promoted to his present rank in August 2017. As Director, Col. Fettig is the music adviser to the White House and regularly conducts the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the Executive Mansion and at all Presidential Inaugurations, leading the band for numerous major national events both at the White House and throughout the country. He conducted national broadcast performances for the 200th Anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner at Ft. McHenry in Baltimore, a special Veterans Day performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City, and an appearance on the David Letterman Show at the invitation of Michelle Obama in New York. Live performances by the Marine Band under his direction are often heard on National Public Radio. Col. Fettig is a fervent advocate for both traditional and contemporary American music and remains dedicated to the ongoing development of music for wind band.
Throughout his career with the Marine Band, Col. Fettig has been deeply committed to music education and has taken an active role in the evolution and expansion of the many educational initiatives of “The President’s Own.” In 2014, shortly after assuming command of the Marine Band, Col. Fettig launched an ambitious project to re-record all of the marches of John Philip Sousa and provide free performance and educational materials online to schools throughout the world.
Our moderator for today’s session is Gail Brechting. Gail is President of the Association of Concert Bands and is the conductor and music director of the West Michigan Concert Winds.
Links to items that are expected to be discussed during the conversation, but if the conversation goes down another path, these resources are presented to you here to explore.
The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa (sheet music, downloadables, audio/video)
Colonel Fettig’s Top 10 Sousa Marches - Follow along as Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig counts down his Top 10 favorite Sousa marches and what makes them so great.
Sousa Marches Deep Cuts - Follow along as Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig expounds on the masterpieces among John Philip Sousa's lesser-known and obscure marches.
Colonel Jason K. Fettig is the 28th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. He joined in 1997 as a clarinetist and soon became a frequently featured soloist with both the band and the Marine Chamber Orchestra. After serving four years in the organization, he was selected as an Assistant Director, and he conducted his first concert with the Marine Band 
