Washington, DC -- This July, ensembles from the Marine Band will return to the Museum of American History as part of the Smithsonian museum’s Star-Spangled American Music Series to perform short, daytime concerts in the museum’s Flag Hall, just inside the main entrance. Each ensemble will perform three 30-minute concerts at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. on their respective days. The first group to perform is a Marine Jazz Ensemble performing on Thursday, July 13. “We’re going to be playing a lot of standard tunes but others that you wouldn’t typically hear often,” said Master Sgt. Alan Prather, guitarist and leader of the group. The ensemble will perform a mix of up-tempo music, ballads, and popular hits such as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “More Than You Know,” “I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But the Blues,” and “Just in Time.” Prather is joined by bass player Gunnery Sgt. Eric Sabo, pianist Gunnery Sgt. Russell Wilson, and drummer Staff Sgt. David Constantine.
The second group to perform at the museum is a Marine Brass Quintet performing two weeks later on Thursday, July 27. The quintet will play a mix of brass quintet standards of patriotic, jazzy, and light classical selections. Led by trumpeter Master Gunnery Sgt. Susan Rider, the group also includes Staff Sgts. trumpeter Chris Larios, French horn player Rebecca McLaughlin, trombonist Christopher Reaves, and tuba player Landres Bryant.
All performances are free and open to the public; no tickets are required.
Directions to the museum