Colonel Michael J. Colburn

Colonel Michael J. Colburn is 27th Director of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. During his twenty years with "The President's Own", Col Colburn has served as principal euphonium, Assistant Director, and since July 17, 2004, the Director who is leading the Marine Band in its third century.

As Director of "The President's Own," Col Colburn is music advisor to the White House. He regularly conducts the Marine Band at the Executive Mansion and at all Presidential Inaugurations. He also serves as music director of Washington D.C.'s prestigious Gridiron Club, a position held by every Director of the Marine Band since John Philip Sousa..

After joining"The President's Own" in May 1987 as a euphonium player, Col Colburn performed regularly at the White House, in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, and throughout the country during the band's annual concert tour. He quickly distinguished himself as a featured soloist, and in 1990 was appointed principal euphonium. In addition to his euphonium duties, Col Colburn was active as a conductor for "The President's Own" chamber music series. In 1996, he was appointed Assistant Director and commissioned a first lieutenant. He accepted the position of Senior Assistant Director and Executive Officer in 2001, and in 2002 was promoted to the rank of major. Col Colburn was promoted to his present rank on July 16, 2004, and assumed leadership of "The President's Own" on July 17, 2004. He was promoted to colonel on July 3, 2007 by President George W. Bush in an Oval Office ceremony.

While Senior Assistant Director, Col Colburn worked to strengthen and expand the reputation of "The President's Own." He was especially involved in the refinement of the Marine Band's audition process and development of the chamber music series. He also arranged for the band's participation in numerous high-profile events. In July 2003, in celebration of the Marine Band's 205th anniversary, he brought to the podium renowned conductor and Academy-Award winning film composer John Williams, who led the Marine Band for a gala performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. As Director, Col Colburn has continued to attract prominent guest conductors for the band, including Leonard Slatkin in 2006 and José Serebrier in 2007.

Col Colburn is deeply committed to seeking new works for "The President's Own." While Assistant Director, he facilitated the commissioning of David Rakowski's "Ten of a Kind", a work which was honored in 2002 as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in music. In 2006, Mr. Rakowksi was awarded the Barlow Endowment Prize, a distinction that will result in a new work to be premiered by "The President's Own" in 2008. Future Marine Band commissions include compositions by the American composers David Chaitkin and Melinda Wagner. Col Colburn also has worked to expand the Marine Band's educational outreach efforts by increasing master classes at schools throughout the nation during the band's annual concert tour, and by initiating Music in the High Schools, a program that sends musicians from "The President's Own" to perform in Washington, area high schools.

Col Colburn is a native of St. Albans, Vt., where he graduated from Bellows Free Academy in 1982. Following high school he attended the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York in Potsdam for two years. He continued his education at Arizona State University in Tempe, where he studied euphonium with Daniel Perantoni and earned a bachelor's degree in music performance in 1986. In 1991, Col Colburn earned a master's degree in conducting from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., where he studied with Anthony Maiello. In addition to his duties with "The President's Own," Col Colburn is an active clinician and guest conductor.