Louisville, Ky. -- On any given Wednesday afternoon it is not uncommon to hear sonorous chords, flowing melodies and complex rhythms emanating from the band hall of the Performing Arts School of Dupont Manuel High School. Tuesday, however, the notes were not those of the school's students. Instead, the music came from instrumentalists clad in the Dress Blue uniform of the United States Marine Corps.
The Kentucky Derby has long brought together people and organizations from far and wide, and the meeting between the students and the Marines from the Parris Island Marine Band of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in South Carolina was no different.
The Marines arrived in Louisville Tuesday evening in preparation for several events during the Kentucky Derby week. In addition to marching in the Thursday's Pegasus Parade and giving a concert at Fest-A-Ville on the Waterfront Friday, the Marines gave a performance at the magnet school.
All the Marines are professional musicians who attended formal schooling at the Armed Forces School of Music. Many have undergraduate and advanced degrees in music from institutions across the country. Additionally, the bandsmen Marines are active duty Marines who have all attended Marine Corps basic training and Marine Combat Training. Their musical duties range from ceremonial support for Marine Corps graduations to local and national civic performances. The band performed at the 2006 Outback Bowl and the 2006 Armed Forces Bowl, and was the marquee ensemble at the South Carolina Music Educators Association Convention in February.
For their part, the students who study at the Performing Arts School are accomplished musicians as well. The school boasts Kentucky's premier performing arts preparatory program, and more than 70 percent of its graduates go on to study music at the college level and find employment as professional musicians.
Dennis Robinson, band director for the Performing Arts School, says the program of study is intense and comprehensive. "Most of our students find themselves 'bored' during their freshman year in a college music curriculum." Covering music theory, aural skills fundamentals and music history in addition to rigorous instrumental technique, the school's curriculum is an impressive pre-baccalaureate training program.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christian Flores, the Marine Band's conductor and officer-in-charge, was especially excited about the opportunity to perform for the students. "It is not often we have a chance to play for and work with high school musicians who are as dedicated to musical excellence as these students," Flores commented. "Knowing they understand our passion, and knowing some of them might see their future selves in us gives us added motivation to perform our absolute best."
The Performing Arts School has hosted many military musical ensembles over the years. Still, associate band director Curtis Essig was especially impressed with the Parris Island Marine Band. "I expected to hear your average military band," Essig said. "But the Marines' level of refinement was just amazing."
The students were equally awed. Junior Josh Warren also thought highly of the performance. "It was incredible," he said. Although he is planning on pursuing music education after high school, Warren hasn't ruled out the Marine Corps. "It's always something I've wanted to do," he said.
The importance of the day was not lost on the Marines either. Not often does the Parris Island Marine Band have the opportunity to provide an inside perspective of what it is to be a Marine musician to such accomplished high-schoolers. "This was a great opportunity to show them different avenues to be able to do what they love to do-play music," Sgt. Kathryn Ableidinger, flutist with the Parris Island Marine Band.
Of course, being a Marine means doing push-ups too. In the Marine Corps spirit of "earned never given," some students accepted bandmaster Master Sgt. Jeffrey Fangman's challenge of 10 push-ups, earning themselves coveted Marine Cops T-shirts.
When Flores again asked for volunteers from the student audience, junior Aqura Lacey immediately raised her hand, not knowing what she was in for. Before she knew it, Flores' conductor's baton was in her hand and she was leading the Marines in the popular John Philip Sousa march, The Thunderer. "He caught me completely off guard," Lacey said. "I was scared but excited too, but it was a wonderful experience." For her bravery, Flores presented her with an engraved conductor's baton.
"You all recognize the hard work and dedication it takes to take your musicianship to great levels, but we all know it begins with devotion, professionalism and enthusiasm of educators like Mr. Robinson," Flores said, addressing the students. As a token of gratitude, Flores presented Robinson with the baton he used to conduct the Marine Band that day.
Robinson especially appreciated the interactive nature and personal touch the Marines brought to the performance. "The interaction with the students, the relaxed but professional atmosphere, the personable and warm feeling. Everything was simply great."
It is said that music is a universal language. That adage certainly seemed to hold true for the students and the Marines. "Whether you're a performing arts school student, or a Marine bandsman, [playing music] is what we love to do," said Staff Sgt. Michael Stanley, musical technical assistant for Marine music in Kentucky. At the end of the day, everyone was happy and grateful for the opportunity to speak and listen without words.