CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan -- The stage of the Camp Foster theater was awash in “Coats of Red and Blue” as the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band and The President’s Own United States Marine Band performed together April 8.
The red dress uniforms of The President’s Own and the blue dress uniforms of the III MEF Band inspired the concert’s theme.
The band had been practicing the music for about a month, but only had one week to practice with members from The President’s Own, according to Sgt. Joseph Longo, a III MEF Band bass player.
“We were able to have individual and ensemble practice with The President’s Own and learn various techniques and skills to help us be better musicians,” said Longo.
For the members of the III MEF Band, performing with The President’s Own was an invaluable experience, said Cpl. Austin Parker, a III MEF Band euphonium player with the band.
“This concert will be a learning experience for all of us,” said Parker. “It will give us a chance to show off what we learned in our hours of practice and private lessons with The President’s Own.”
The band played American music featuring various patriotic selections, such as “America, The Beautiful” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
“We are playing songs we think the audience will enjoy,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Philip Franke, a euphonium player with The President’s Own. “We want the audience to walk away from this concert humming and singing the melody of the songs we perform.”
The concert also featured vocalists, acapella groups, drum battles and some comedic humor.
“It’s great to incorporate outside entertainment into our concert to spice it up for our audience members, and this concert has a little bit of everything in it,” said Franke.
“It’s an honor and privilege to play next to the best and have them help make us play even better,” said Chief Warrant Officer Stephen B. Giove, director and officer-in-charge of the III MEF Band.
“It was a really cool and fun experience to come to Okinawa and teach and perform with the Marines here,” said Franke. “The Marines were so eager to learn new tricks and techniques and absorbed everything we taught them.”
“We had a fantastic concert, and all the Marines played extremely well, and they had fun while doing it. That’s what matters,” said Giove. “The reaction of the audience tells you how well the concert went, and they were happy, excited and enjoyed themselves.”
The band has several upcoming events scheduled.
“Our next concert ‘An Evening with the III MEF Band’ will be May 14 at 7 p.m. at the Okinawa Convention Center,” said Giove.
For more information on the band or upcoming performances, call the III MEF Band at 645-3919.