Sunday, October 26, 2008
He expects to see some of his old YSU professors during his visit.
YOUNGSTOWN — When “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band comes to Stambaugh Auditorium on Thursday, it will be a homecoming for its trumpeter-cornetist, Andrew Schuller.
The Salem native performed in several recitals at Stambaugh back when he was a music student at Youngstown State University.
“I’m excited to be coming back to Youngstown,” he said in a recent phone interview from West Lafayette, Ind., where the band was scheduled to play at Purdue University.
After graduating from Salem High School in 1976, Schuller attended YSU, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and studied trumpet with Esotto Pellegrini and conducting with Robert Fleming. In 1993, he earned a master’s degree in conducting from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
He joined the Marine Band in October 1986, and was appointed trumpet section leader in 1998 and high brass section commander in 2003.
Schuller said he expects to see some of his old music professors from YSU during his visit, including Fleming.
The 65-piece Marine Band’s repertoire runs from classical to marches, including many works by John Philip Sousa, who was the 17th director of the band in the late 1800s.
“It’s a varied program,” said Schuller, adding that the concerts are well-attended. “Audiences are very enthusiastic. We play a lot of patriotic music, and many veterans come to our performances.” Thursday’s free concert at Stambaugh is co-sponsored by The Vindicator.
The Marine Band is America’s oldest professional musical organization. Founded in 1798, it has performed for every U.S. president since John Adams. Given the title “The President’s Own” by Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band’s primary mission is to provide music for the president of the United States.
The band performs as needed, said Schuller, at least once a week at social occasions. Dinners, bill-signing ceremonies and gatherings of people who are being given a special honor — such as Olympic athletes — are examples.
The Marine Band also plays at venues in the Washington, D.C., area and goes on a national tour every fall.
Schuller was working as a teacher in Salem when he heard about an opening on the Marine Band. He auditioned and won the spot.
The son of William and Jeannine Schuller of Salem, he currently resides in Alexandria, Va., with his wife, Heidi.
Although he has the rank of master gunnery sergeant and is considered an active-duty Marine, Schuller — and all members of the band — are not combat-trained and did not have to go through basic training.
In addition to the Marine Band, Schuller also performs with the Marine Chamber Orchestra and Marine Chamber Ensembles. He has conducted the Marine Chamber Ensembles in concert.