Main Content

The United States Marine Band: The Directors

Copyright © White House Historical Association. All rights reserved under international copyright conventions. No part of this article may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for reprint permissions should be addressed to books@whha.org

Gallery

  • United States Marine Band: Directors Photo 1

    1 of 3

    William H. Santelmann, Director (1898-1927), served for 29 years—the longest of any bandleader. He joined the band under Sousa, and played violin, clarinet, and baritone horn. Santelmann was credited with expanding the orchestral component of the band by requiring all wind and percussion performers to be proficient in stringed instruments.

    Untied States Marine Band

    Show Me More

  • United Stated Marine Band: Directors Photo 2

    2 of 3

    During his distinguished 30-year career, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy W. Foley has served as assistant solo clarinetist, Assistant Director, and since 1996, as the 26th Director. On July 11, 1998, he led the band into its third century.

    United States Marine Band

    Show Me More

  • Pre-Show at the 2019 National Christmas Tree Lighting

    3 of 3

    This photograph taken on December 5, 2019, during the pre-show of the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony shows WUSA9 News morning anchor Annie Yu and National Park Service interpreter Kyle Yarusso speaking with Col. Jason K. Fettig, director of the United States Marine Band.

    Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association

During its first two centuries, the Marine Band has had more than two dozen directors. Each leader has contributed to the recognition and appreciation of "The President's Own" through their original band compositions, orchestral transcriptions, and programming. Directors serve as music advisor to the White House and traditionally are selected from within the band's membership. As the Sousa baton is a symbol of his dedication, leadership, and vision is passed to an incoming Director, so too is passed 200 years of history and tradition.

More on the United States Marine Band

Share

Related

Related
Next The History of Wine and the White House

You Might Also Like

  • Podcast

    The History of Wine and the White House

    Featuring Frederick J. Ryan, author of “Wine and the White House: A History" and member of the White House Historical Association’s National Council on White House History

  • Podcast

    A Discussion with the Voices of Lafayette Park

    Featuring Hilary West, Executive Director for Federal Government Relations at JPMorgan Chase, and Royce L. Dickerson, MBA Candidate at the University of Alabama’s Manderson Graduate School of Business

  • Collection

    The 2021 White House Christmas Ornament

    Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament. These unique collectibles — honoring individual presidents or specific White House anniversaries — have become part of the holiday tradition for millions of American families. In this collection, explore the history behind our 2021 design and learn more about President Lyndon B. Johnson.Buy

  • Collection

    Native Americans and the White House

    Native Americans hold a significant place in White House history. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples, including the Nacotchtank and Piscataway, lived in the Potomac Valley prior to the construction of the White House. Since that time, Native Americans have come to the Executive Mansion to share their cultural heritage, meet with presidents, protest, and advocate for Indigenous rights. In

  • Collection

    The Decatur House Slave Quarters

    In 1821-1822, Susan Decatur requested the construction of a service wing. The first floor featured a large kitchen, dining room, and laundry; while the second floor contained four rooms designated as living quarters. By 1827, the service wing was being used as an urban slave quarters. Henry Clay brought enslaved individuals to Decatur House, starting a trend that was solidified by

  • Collection

    The Nixon White House 1969 - 1974

    On January 20, 1969, Richard Nixon was inaugurated as the thirty-seventh president of the United States. During his time in the White House (1969–74), President Nixon sought to unite a divided nation after the social, political, and cultural turbulence of the 1960s. Before becoming president, Nixon served in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as

  • Collection

    Presidential and First Lady Portraits

    Since 1965, the White House Historical Association has been proud to fund the official portraits of our presidents and first ladies, a long-standing tradition of the White House Collection. Recent presidents and first ladies typically select their respective artists before leaving the White House and approve the portraits before their formal presentation to the public and induction into the collection. The