Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | Gunnery Sgt. Jason Knuckles (left) and Cpl. Andrew Felker (right) take a photo with...... read more read more
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COLTS NECK, N.J. – The Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Jazz Combo traveled from South Carolina To New Jersey to celebrate the Daniel Pearl World Music Days by performing for the local community at the Daniel Pearl Education Center in East Brunswick, N.J., Oct. 28.
“Each performance was well received and the community was thrilled to have us,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Kyne, the musician placement director of the 1st Marine Corps District. “Many of the people were aware there are bands in the military but were impressed by the Jazz Ensembles performance and were excited to shake their hands.”
The Daniel Pearl Education Center has participated in the Daniel Pearl World Music Days for 12 years and this year, Dr. Andrew Boyarsky, the chairman of the Daniel Pearl Education Center, thought that the Parris Island Jazz Combo would be the perfect musical outfit to celebrate the event.
“Daniel loved music and this is an attempt to show the world how music is the international language, which can bring people together from all backgrounds,” said Boyarsky. “The performance by the Parris Island Jazz Combo was spectacular. Those in attendance were quite impressed and overwhelmingly have told us how much they enjoyed the evening. How could they not? The professionalism and the musicianship was beyond our wildest hopes.”
In addition to the Daniel Pearl World Music Days Performance, the four-Marine band performed for four high schools in Middlesex County, including Monroe Township High School, J.P. Stevens High School, Sayreville War Memorial High School, and Edison High School.
“We brought the Jazz Combo to the high schools to show them that there is an opportunity to have a well-paying career in music,” stated Kyne. “Many talented students give up music after high school as it may seem like a pipe dream to be a professional musician. However, truly talented individuals that wish to serve their country have a chance to really make something of themselves and we wanted to show them that they can make their dreams a reality.”
Music in the Marine Corps has a rich history and has evolved over the years. One of purposes of Marine music is to build rapport with communities and support the overarching recruiting mission.
“MEOP is an important program because it fills a specific, unique need for the Marine Corps,” said Maj. John F. Campbell, commanding officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station New Jersey. “The bands play an important part in our ceremonies, traditions and community outreach.”
Dr. Paul Caruso, band director at Sayreville War Memorial H.S., jumped at the opportunity to have the band perform for his students.
“Students seldom get to hear live jazz performed by such accomplished musicians,” said Caruso. “For most of them, it was the first time hearing professional musicians in a live setting.”
After a handful of songs, Gunnery Sgt. Jason Knuckles, the band leader, asked the students if they cared to join them for a song. Knuckles explained the importance of sight reading and improvisation when it comes to jazz. Caruso realized this as he grabbed his Oboe and jumped at the opportunity to play along with the jazz ensemble.
“I was very excited to play with such fine musicians,” Caruso said. “It is comforting to know that at some point, musicians can get together without any rehearsal at all and just play some blues. Sight reading and improvisation is very important for musicians. I think that my students had a sense of that during the performance.”
The Marine Corps has 10 field bands located around the world and each band is required to perform as the full spectrum of ensembles to include wind ensemble, ceremonial band, jazz big band, pop rock band, and brass and woodwind chamber ensembles.
Marine Corps bands tour as often as they can and one of the purposes is to not only showcase their musical abilities, but to educate young musicians on potential opportunities for them to pursue in the future. This was demonstrated during the Daniel Pearl World Music Days performance when the jazz combo invited up Thomas Mason, a poolee with Recruiting Substation Monmouth, to perform a song with them.
Mason, a senior at Wall Township High School, is already in the Delayed Entry Program and is scheduled to go to boot camp in June 2016. Mason’s currently assigned Military Occupation Specialty is for communications but he aspires to be a musician in the Marine Corps.
“Playing with the Parris Island Jazz Combo was an excellent experience” said Mason. “I got to meet members of the band and learn what it will be like if I get there.”
The audition process to qualify for the Marine Musician Enlistment Option Program is challenging yet highly rewarding.
“Marine musicians are the only Marines who have to be proficient at their job before they join” added Campbell. “Having the band up is a great way for the Marine Corps to engage the local community and showcase the exceptionally talented musicians we have. It’s also a great opportunity to support school music programs and encourage young men and women who are passionate about music.”
Applicants who enlist under MEOP are required to complete basic training prior to joining the Marine Band. Upon completion of recruit training and Marine combat training, MEOP Marines report to the School of Music, located in Virginia Beach, Va. They will receive 30 weeks of formal musical training from some of the finest Marine Corps and naval musicians. After graduating here, the Marine will be assigned to their first permanent duty station, which will be one of the 10 field bands throughout the world.
“We won’t be able to see the immediate results of how the performances have touched the lives of those impacted by them,” said Kyne. “Someone may be moved to join the Marine Corps Band like Poolee Thomas Mason; others may spend 4 years at a music school and then decide that a military unit is the way for them. Others may never even join the Marines but remember us, and the performance that they saw in high school will motivate them to keep the military in their hearts.”
For more information on the MEOP program go to www.marines.com/music-MEOP or www.Facebook.com/MarineMusicProgram1MCD.
| Date Taken: | 11.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.23.2015 10:41 |
| Story ID: | 182603 |
| Location: | COLTS NECK, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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