Jason Fettig

Jason K. Fettig is a United States Marine Corps colonel who is the music adviser to the President of the United States and the 28th director of the United States Marine Band "The President's Own".

Jason Fettig
Fettig in 2017
Born	1974/1975 (age 45–46)[1]
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1997–present
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	United States Marine Band "The President's Own"
Awards	Meritorious Service Medal Navy Commendation Medal

Originally from Manchester, New Hampshire, Fettig was educated at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Maryland. An accomplished clarinetist, he assumed command of the U.S. Marine Band in 2014 after several years serving as the band's assistant director. As of 2019, he holds the rank of colonel.

Early life and education

Jason Fettig directs the Marine Band during annual memorial observances to John Philip Sousa at the Congressional Cemetery in 2007

Jason Fettig is shown directing the Marine Chamber Orchestra in a 2017 performance of the Overture to Don Giovanni

Originally from Manchester, New Hampshire, Jason Fettig began playing clarinet at age eight.[2] He graduated from Manchester Central High School, where he was drum major of the Manchester Central High School Marching Band, and completed his undergraduate education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he studied music education.[3][4][5] Later, he received a master's degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Maryland, College Park.[5]

Career

Early career

After completing his undergraduate studies, Fettig performed as a clarinetist with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra.[6] He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1997 and was posted to the U.S. Marine Band.[2] In 2002 he was commissioned first lieutenant and appointed assistant director of the band.[6] Two years later, in 2004, he was promoted to captain and the band's executive officer and, in 2007, was further promoted to major.[6] During his tenure as assistant director, Fettig led expansion of the band's educational outreach programs, organizing clinics for music students in the District of Columbia Public Schools and creating an annual Young People's Concert.[7]

Director of the U.S. Marine Band

Fettig during the inauguration of Joe Biden

Fettig was promoted to lieutenant colonel, receiving the John Philip Sousa Baton and, with it, command of the U.S. Marine Band during a 2014 change of command ceremony officiated by Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos at Schlesinger Hall in Springfield, Virginia.[6][8] He was advanced to colonel by order of President of the United States Donald Trump in an August 2017 promotion ceremony held in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.[5][6] Fettig's was the first military promotion personally performed by Trump.[9]

As director, Fettig has led the Marine Band during live performances on Late Night with David Letterman and National Public Radio.[5] He also launched a project to re-record all of the collected marches of John Philip Sousa, and personally conducted the world premieres of new works by Adam Schoenberg, David Conte, David Rakowski, and Narong Prangcharoen.[5] In 2018, under Fettig's direction, the Marine Band was named as an artist in its first regional Emmy Award, given in the category Special Event Coverage Other than News and Sports, for the WNET-TV broadcast of the television special United States Marine Band "New England Spirit".[10][11]

In his capacity as director of the U.S. Marine Band, Fettig is also music adviser to the President of the United States.[6][12][13][14]

Accolades

Fettig is the 2000 winner of the International Clarinet Association's Young Artist Competition.[6] In 2014 he was elected a member of the American Bandmasters Association, considered the highest honor possible for American bandsmen.[5][15]

See also

• Francis Scala

References

1. Hayward, Mark (October 12, 2017). "U.S. Marine Band's NH concerts mark homecoming for director". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
2. Willingham, Leah (October 4, 2017). "Soundtrack to history". Concord Monitor. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
3. Hayward, Mark (July 3, 2014). "Central buddies play on". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
4. DeLong Wheeler, Christine (December 5, 2018). "Manchester native directs Marine Chamber Orchestra at George H.W. Bush's funeral". WMUR-TV. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
5. "Col. Jason K. Fettig". "The President's Own" United States Marine Band"The President's Own" United States Marine Band. U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
6. "Alumnus Jason Fettig to Lead 'The President's Own' Marine Band". Inside UMass. University of Massachusetts Amherst. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
7. "SOM Alumnus Leads United States Marine Band". The Clarice. University of Maryland. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
8. "Jul 14, 2014". "The President's Own" United States Marine Band Colonel Jason K. Fettig, Director. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
9. duBois, Kristin. "Marine Band Director Promoted to Colonel in White House". marines.mil. U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
10. "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter Announces Results of the 62nd Annual New York Emmy Awards" (PDF). nyemmys.org. New York Emmy Awards. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
11. "US Marine Band With The All-Star Orchestra Wins Emmy". musicalamerica.com. 8VA Music Consultancy (Press Release). Retrieved August 24, 2019.
12. "The director of the Marine Band serves as the musical advisor to the President in organizing the music for ceremonial occasions."The Oxford Guide to the United States Government. 2001. ISBN 978-0-19-514273-0.
13. Pious, Richard M. (2001). The Presidency of the United States: A Student Companion. Oxford University Press. p. 167. ISBN 0-19-515006-6.
14. Marine Corps Occupational System Manual (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Marine Corps. 2005. p. 1142. Duties: (1) Serve as Commanding Officer of the U.S. Marine Band (2) Serves as Musical Advisor to the President of the United States, the White House, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps
15. Feyes, Andrew. "Frank Tracz inducted into the American Bandmasters Association". k-state.edu. Kansas State University. Retrieved August 1, 2019.

External links

• Interviews with Jason Fettig on C-SPAN