U.S. Marine Corp Band Performance - Friday, Sept. 16th, 2011

Friday evening we noticed while reading the newspaper that the U.S. Marine Corp Band was going to be playing in St. Paul's Chapel in Wellington that night.  We hurried down to the chapel and were treated to a wonderful hour of band music.  They played a number of John Philip Sousa marches and a few more popular numbers like the overture to Carmina Burana We got a few photos shown below.

Interesting to note, since June 1942 the American and Marine Corp flag have flown in this chapel as recognition of the U.S. coming to protect New Zealand during WWII.  The 70th anniversary of this will be recognized in June, 2012.

This plaque is also kept in the chapel telling why the Marine Corp flag is flown.

Here you see the band conductor and the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand.  A great looking representation of the United States!  The ambassador opened the show in Maori and then went into an English welcome.

During the course of the evening this Master Gunnery Sargent keep the audience advised of what the songs were and meant.

Here's the conductor of the first half of the program.  Talk about dressed right, this marine was fantastic!  While conducting, besides his arms, nothing moved AT ALL.

In contrast, the final and lead conductor, an officer, was full of fun and humor.  He comes from Montana and has been with the band a number of years.  Here he's directing the audience in clapping.

The most entertaining group in the band was percussion!  The marine on the far left playing the drums was all smiles and great expressions the entire show.  You should have heard him do a Bennie Goodman drum solo!

Of course the brass section was most impressive!  Especially the flutists and clarinetists.  All in all, the band was great.

From the expressions on their faces you can see that these marines really are having a fun time.  The marine on the right was playing the part of the marching horses.

You would not believe this marine who did the piccolo solo of Semper Fedilis.  It was amazing!  When she concluded...out of breath...she holstered her piccolo just like she was on parade and putting it away!