Hampton, VA - Hampton University proudly hosts "The President's Own" United States Marine Band as part of the band's 2006 national concert tour. The band will perform in Ogden Hall on the HU campus on Wednesday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. The concert, sponsored by Hampton University is free and open to the public.

Patrons may reserve tickets (limit four per request) by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Hampton University Office of the President, Marine Band Tickets, Hampton, Va. 23668 or by calling 757-727-5231. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket holders must be seated by 7:15 p.m.; non-ticket holders will be admitted at that time.

In the style of the band's 17th Director John Philip Sousa, who initiated the concert tour tradition in 1891, Marine Band Director Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Colburn has chosen a diverse mix of musical selections - from traditional band repertoire and marches to instrumental solos.

By late November, the Marine Band will have performed a total of 44 concerts in 49 days on its 2006 tour. This year's tour route takes the band through Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

The Marine Band is America's oldest professional musical organization. Founded in 1798, the band has performed for every U.S. President since John Adams. Given the title "The President's Own" by Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band's primary mission is to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

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For more information contact Erica Taylor Harrod @ (757) 727-5255 or email erica.harrod@hamptonu.edu.

No humping the turf from this group. They're good at what they do but corps style just doesn't do it for me.
One of the ESPN channels even had on a corps style band competition last weekend.