Veteran Musicians Step In After Trump DEI Order Cancels Marine Band Concert with Students of Color

A canceled performance by students and the U.S. Marine Band leads to a new concert featuring retired military musicians and young talent, highlighting the impact of the executive order on diversity programs.

• President Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs led to the cancellation of a planned concert between the U.S. Marine Band and student musicians of color from the nonprofit Equity Arc.
• The Marine Band's commanding officer informed Equity Arc that the concert could not be rescheduled as long as the executive order remained in effect.
• Equity Arc organized an alternative concert featuring 22 of the selected students alongside retired musicians from military bands, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.
• The concert, held at the Strathmore Music Center near Washington, D.C., featured a repertoire originally planned for the canceled event, including works by John Philip Sousa and Dimitri Shostakovich.
• Participants and organizers emphasized the importance of diversity in the arts, with students and veteran musicians expressing disappointment over the cancellation but pride in their collaborative performance.

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