VALPARAISO | During its 2008-2009 season, the Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band will embark on an international tour and welcome back an alumnus now performing with the acclaimed United States Navy Band for its annual Sousa Tribute Concert.

The Chamber Concert Band, Valparaiso's premier concert band, will open its season with a Nov. 8 concert that begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Chapel of the Resurrection on campus. The concert is part of Family Weekend activities.

The University's 11th annual Sousa Tribute Concert is Feb. 21 and features a program that includes a variety of ballads, marches and patriotic songs by John Phillip Sousa and composers who influenced his work. Guest soloist will be Jacob Christian, a 2003 Valparaiso graduate and saxophonist with the U.S. Navy Band. The Chamber Concert Band will present two performances of the concert at 1 and 5 p.m. in the VU Center for the Arts.

In March, the ensemble will travel to Malta for a week-long tour. The Chamber Concert Band previously toured Malta, a nation with a strong tradition of concert band music, in 2005 and presented concerts in historic churches while also working with young musicians in school bands.

The ensemble's season will conclude with a spring concert at 7:30 p.m. May 1 in the Chapel of the Resurrection.

The Chamber Concert Band also will be one of the featured student music ensembles to perform during the annual Valparaiso Christmas Concert, which will be performed Dec. 5 and 6 at the Chapel of the Resurrection.

Tickets for the Chamber Concert Band's concerts are $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens and students, with the exception of the Nov.

8 concert, which is free and open to the public.

For more concert and ticket information, call the VU Box Office at

(219) 464-5162 or visit valpo.edu/vuca.

The Chamber Concert Band, Valparaiso's premier concert band, is conducted by Jeff Doebler, associate professor of music. Students of all majors participate in the auditioned ensemble, which regularly tours throughout the United States and internationally.

The Chamber Concert Band's fourth album, "Spirit of the March King," was released in 2006 and features live recordings from the ensemble's authentic Sousa concerts. The band also is one of three ensembles featured on a DVD of the University's 2007 Christmas Concert that was released earlier this year in conjunction with the ongoing celebration of Valparaiso's 150th anniversary.

Dr. Doebler received the 2006 Outstanding University Music Educator Award from the Indiana Music Educators Association in honor of his outstanding achievements in the field of music education. He is a past president of the IMEA, is editor of the association's quarterly magazine and frequently serves as a guest conductor and clinician. Doebler led a band tour in China for the fourth consecutive summer in 2008, which included nationally-televised concerts and a performance at the site of the Beijing Olympics sailing events.

--For The Times