Programs & Events
Marine Forces Pacific Band Performs in Cambodia
Cambodia
September 17-24, 2007
Thousands of Cambodians were treated to performances of American music when 20 members of the Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) Band conducted a performance tour through Cambodia. The group presented free, outdoor concerts in Sihanoukville, Kampot, Phnom Penh, and Kampong Cham – the first time that the U.S. Embassy had sponsored such events in these locations for more than 30 years. The performances were enthusiastically received by the Cambodian audiences, with the only complaint being that the 90-minute concerts were too short.
Each performance opened with a selection of classic American songs and marches performed by the entire concert band. This was followed by New Orleans-style "second line" numbers by the group’s party band, and the group’s show band brought the evening to a close with classic American rock and roll tunes. In Phnom Penh, the MARFORPAC Band teamed up with the Cambodian Royal Navy Band for a joint performance that featured the American and Cambodian musicians playing and signing together on a number of Cambodian and American songs. This performance was also taped by the National Television Authority of Cambodia (TVK) and will be aired nationwide after the Pchum Ben holidays.
The MARFORPAC Band is stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu. The band members spend much of their time traveling throughout the Pacific region acting as musical ambassadors for the Marine Corps. They perform a variety of American musical styles including jazz, Dixieland, show tunes and pop music. In addition to providing musical support for parades, concerts, ceremonies, and other official events, the band is trained and equipped to fulfill its role as a provisional rifle platoon.
