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News

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Marine Band concert Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. The performance is free and open to the public and will take place in in Dekelboum Concert Hall at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland in College Park. - Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. - This program features two very different but equally epic symphonies, including Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. The 35-minute first movement is a miniature symphony in and of itself and will be performed in transcription on this concert along with the transformative Finale of the entire work. The first half of the program features composer Johan de Meij’s dramatic and colorful Symphony No. 1 inspired by The Lord of the Rings books by J. R. R. Tolkien. The year 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of this substantial original symphony for band, and the Marine Band was among the first to perform it three decades ago. The composer will be on hand to lead this commemorative performance of his Symphony No. 1. Free parking in Lots 1B and Z. The performance is free and open to the public and will take place in Dekelboum Concert Hall at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland in College Park.

When it comes to the historical knowledge and performance of marches, the United States Marine Band is your prime resource, especially for marches written by John Philip Sousa. From February 26-March 28, “The President’s Own” will host “Sousa’s March Mania,” a tournament pitting 32 marches against each other for the Marine Band online community to determine which one is the favorite. Every day through March 28, marches will compete head to head while our friends and fans vote which marches advance in the tournament. You can visit the Marine Band website to listen to the competing marches, download a tournament bracket, and vote for your favorites. The champion march will be announced on March 29. At the end of the competition, anyone with the winning march on their bracket, completed prior to the first match, will be dubbed an honorary "March King" for a day! - When it comes to the historical knowledge and performance of marches, the United States Marine Band is your prime resource, especially for marches written by John Philip Sousa. From February 26-March 28, “The President’s Own” will host “Sousa’s March Mania,” a tournament pitting 32 marches against each other for the Marine Band online community to determine which one is the favorite. Every day through March 28, marches will compete head to head while our friends and fans vote which marches advance in the tournament. You can visit the Marine Band website to listen to the competing marches, download a tournament bracket, and vote for your favorites. The champion march will be announced on March 29. At the end of the competition, anyone with the winning march on their bracket, completed prior to the first match, will be dubbed an honorary "March King" for a day!

Marine Chamber Orchestra concert Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. The performance is free and open to the public and will take place at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va. - Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. - The Marine Band has provided music to the White House continuously since New Year’s Day 1801. The music of America heard at the Executive Mansion has evolved considerably through the centuries, but its purpose has remained steadfast. Take a virtual tour of the Grand Foyer at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with the Marine Chamber Orchestra in the very configuration in which they regularly appear in the White House, including a State Dinner sequence featuring strolling strings and a jazz combo. Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig will narrate this unique concert and share memorable musical moments from the last 20 years of performances for White House guests by “The President’s Own.” The performance is free and open to the public and will take place at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va.

Marine Chamber Orchestra concert featuring Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, along with works by Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. - Sunday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m.: Although he left his native Norway to study in the traditions of Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann, Edvard Grieg eventually returned to his homeland to find his own nationalistic voice, becoming the first Norwegian composer to achieve major international recognition. He attained that fame at the young age of 25 with his Piano Concerto in A minor, one of the most prominent in the piano repertoire. The work celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2018, performed on this concert by Staff Sgt. Christopher Schmitt. Bookending the program are works by Mendelssohn and Schumann that markedly influenced Grieg’s compositional style. The concert is free and no tickets are required, and will take place at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall.

John Philip Sousa first served in the Marine Band as an apprentice musician from ages 13-20. Following his enlistment, he worked as a conductor and composer in Philadelphia until 1880, when at the age of only 25 he was called back by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to serve as the United StatesMarine Band’s 17th Director. During the next 12 years, Sousa embarked on a musical odyssey that simultaneously transformed “The President’s Own” from a local military band into a world-renowned musical organization and transformed himselfinto a national celebrity and “The March King.” This concert traces Sousa’s career as Marine Band Director and highlights some of the music and events that shaped his famous tenure. Much of the music featured on this program came from Sousa’s pen during his years as Director, and all was performed with the band during his time on the podium of “The President’s Own.” The concert is free, and no tickets are required. - January 7, 2018, 2 pm, George Mason Center for the Arts: John Philip Sousa first served in the Marine Band as an apprentice musician from ages 13-20. Following his enlistment, he worked as a conductor and composer in Philadelphia until 1880, when at the age of only 25 he was called back by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to serve as the United States Marine Band’s 17th Director. During the next 12 years, Sousa embarked on a musical odyssey that simultaneously transformed “The President’s Own” from a local military band into a world-renowned musical organization and transformed himself into a national celebrity and “The March King.” This concert traces Sousa’s career as Marine Band Director and highlights some of the music and events that shaped his famous tenure. Much of the music featured on this program came from Sousa’s pen during his years as Director, and all was performed with the band during his time on the podium of “The President’s Own.” The concert is free, and no tickets are required.