1st Marine Division Band returns to Escondido for annual concert

Camp Pendleton's finest musicians will return to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido (the Center) at the end of January to entertain audiences during the 1st Marine Division Band's FREE annual patriotic concert. The band will perform Thursday and Friday, Jan. 30 and 31, at 7 p.m. in the Center's 1,500-seat Concert Hall. While admission is free, concertgoers will need to reserve their seats in advance due to the popularity of the show. Based out of Camp Pendleton, the 1st Marine Division Band is made up of 50 Marine musicians. While the primary mission of the band is to provide musical support for military parades and ceremonies, its musicians also perform at more than 300 commitments each year, including the annual concerts at the Center. The musicians play in several different ensembles, and, as in years past, it is the Concert Band that will take the stage in Escondido. Regarded as one of the finest military ensembles in the United States today, the Concert Band performs traditional marches, overtures, instrumental solos, classical transcriptions and patriotic favorites. The Escondido shows will celebrate the history of the 1st Marine Division, which was activated aboard the battleship USS Texas on Feb. 1, 1941. This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the division. Affectionately known as "The Old Breed," it is the oldest, largest and most decorated division in the United States Marine Corps. To reserve seats for the Jan. 30 or Jan. 31 shows, visit http://www.artcenter.org/marineband/ or call the Ticket Office at (800) 988-4253. Only six tickets at a time can be reserved online. If you need to reserve seats for a larger group, call the Ticket Office, which is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.