Marine Forces Reserve Band concludes Fall Tour at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Photo By Sgt. Jennifer Delacruz | U.S. Marines with the Marine Forces Reserve Band stand at the conclusion of their performance at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Sept. 15, 2023. The Marine Forces Reserve band embarks on annual spring and fall tours to showcase their musical expertise. This fall, their tour included performances at middle schools, high schools, and universities across Tennessee including Tennessee State University, Lee University, and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jennifer Delacruz)  

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES

09.20.2023

Story by Cpl. Jennifer Delacruz 

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

Chattanooga, Tennessee -- The U.S. Marine Forces Reserve Band performed at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Sept. 15, 2023.

The U.S. Marine Forces Reserve Band, stationed at the Marine Corps Support Facility in New Orleans, was established in 1978 and is one of the 10 Marine Corps field bands that comprises active-duty Marines. The band provides musical support for military ceremonies and other official functions, Marine Corps community relation events, and Marine Corps personnel procurement programs.

The Marine Forces Reserve Band embodies the spirit of the United States Marine Corps, not only through their military service but also through the power of music. The band takes center stage in over 350 concerts, parades, and ceremonies annually, leaving a mark on audiences globally. This fall, the band’s tour included performances at middle schools, high schools, and universities across Tennessee including TSU, Lee University, and UTC.

The MFR band performed a piece titled “Five,” composed by Dr. Kenyon Wilson, the Head of the Department of Performing Arts at UTC, to honor the Marines killed here in the tragic accident in 2015.

After the performance, Dr. Wilson stated, “We seek out excellence where it is, and to have military musicians demonstrate that and demonstrate the wide backgrounds they come from is a great exposure for our students to know what musical opportunities they have. I turned and watched at how everyone was enjoying the concert and those are the concerts you love. As for ‘Five’, it’s been eight years and I still have a difficult time getting through the piece. They did just a beautiful job.”

Comprising nearly every musician in the unit, the band delivers performances that span a vast musical landscape. From traditional pieces to contemporary pieces in the categories of wind band literature, orchestral transcriptions, pop arrangements, and concert marches, the Marines have a dedication to their craft.

Alongside Dr. Wilson were many UTC students who came and appreciated the concert.

Carlie Larson, a music education major, studying at UTC, expressed “the performance tonight was so amazing. It was so great to be here and be surrounded by so many like-minded people. It’s also really cool, as a music education major, to know that there are other opportunities for me out there besides just teaching kids for the rest of my life, I was very grateful to have that experience.”

The band’s dual commitment to music and military service exemplifies the band's unwavering dedication to their country and the core values of being a Marine.

For more information about the Marine Forces Reserve Band, visit their Facebook and Instagram pages @mfrband, or visit their website at www.music.marines.mil.

• Date Taken: 09.20.2023
• Date Posted: 09.27.2023 16:27
• Story ID: 453886
• Location: CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, US