April 9, 2015. --
Marine Corps Band New Orleans performed for the summer season opener of the New Orleans Zephyrs baseball team at Zephyrs Field,
April 9, 2015.
Outside
the stadium, the band opened the night with a repertoire of traditional marches
and New Orleans inspired songs before the start of the game.
“We
[performed] several patriotic songs, local New Orleans songs and some pop
songs,” said Lance Cpl. Benjamin Black, a percussionist in the band. “It’s some
local flavor that the crowd should be able to enjoy. It should be an exciting
night.”
By
playing in different events, the band is able to enhance the connection and
relationship between the Marine Corps and the New Orleans community.
“One
of the main missions of Marine Corps Band New Orleans is to be good neighbors,”
said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bryan Sherlock, officer in charge of the band.
“For us to be good neighbors and be able to come out and perform for thousands
of people here in New Orleans is a great way for us to reinforce what we do, as
well as get the name and the image of the Marine Corps in the public’s mind.”
When
facing a huge crowd during a presentation, the members of the band are trained
to be able to keep calm and focus on their performance.
“I
tell my Marines that if there are two people in the audience or 200,000, they
get the same performance,” said Gunnery Sgt. Michael J. Maschmeier, the
enlisted conductor of the band. “The size of the crowd that comes to stay and
watch us doesn’t matter to us; they are still going to get 110% from every Marine
in the unit.”
But
in some cases, the size does matter. For a few young Marines, the size of the
crowd is a direct representation of their career accomplishments.
“This
is everything I have been working for,” says Black. “For two years I have
auditioned, gone through Basic Training, Marine Combat Training and now I am
finally where I have been dying to be, where I have wanted to be for years;
performing in front of a huge crowd.”
The
band travels more than 150,000 miles and performs for an estimated 8 million
people a year, and has a continuous involvement with the community through
diverse presentations such as games, parades and ceremonies.
“The
community audience is the reason the Marine Corps band exists,” said Cpl. Adam
Edwards, french horn player in the band. “We perform for the people and by
keeping a good relationship, we will always have a good audience supporting us
and the Marine Corps.”