MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Tis the season to be jolly and the 2nd Marine Division Band is ready to get everyone in the holiday spirit. On Dec. 10, at 2 p.m., the band will kick off their annual Holiday Concert at the base theater. The production is free of admission and open to the public— doors open at 1 p.m.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Dwyer, an enlisted conductor with the band, said that families can look forward to an array of festive events they will surely enjoy.
“The Annual Division Holiday Concert this year is going to consist of more than a couple parts,” he said. “We’re going to have our Concert Band playing, our Big Band playing, we have our Jazz Combo, our Brass Quintet and this year we’re also doing a 20-minute Christmas play that the Marines wrote themselves.”
Prior to the bands performance the Camp Lejeune High School music students will be performing. On site, Gunny Clause will be there to spread holiday cheer with candy canes and cookies.
Dwyer said that people in attendance won’t be disappointed. He and the rest of the band have worked tirelessly to make sure everyone leaves with a sense of seasonal joy.
“These guys have put in hours and hours of practice. It’s hard to just think of the amount of work they do,” he said. “A lot of it’s put in their after hour time where the Marines practice on their own. We really started the initial planning around the summer time and then really started practicing at the beginning of November.”
Each year the Marines perform a wide varity of Christmas songs and according to Staff Sgt. Jenny Miranda, the acting small ensemble leader with the band, the word is out and this isn’t going to be one you’ll want to miss.
“The crowds just keep getting bigger and bigger each year,” said Miranda. “Every one that went last year was very happy with the performance and very grateful and appreciative. Overall the concert went off very well.”
For more information call 910-451-2785/450-9511 or visit mccslejeune.com. The concert is an official drop off point for Toys for Tots and donations are greatly appreciated.
“This year is a much bigger production than it has been in the past. The Marines have been working very, very, very hard and very long hours to put this concert together,” said Miranda. “People just love to come and enjoy the concert because it’s the one thing that we do for the families that signifies the Christmas spirit and the holiday season.”