Calendar

Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

Date & Time: Sunday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.

Program:  View Here

Description: “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band invites you to attend the 20th Sousa Season Opener to kick off the 2026 concert season! Enjoy the many sides of John Philip Sousa with a program that puts his musical versatility on full display: concertgoers can expect to hear iconic, beloved marches as well as lesser known yet exceptionally delightful Sousa pieces. Also known as “The March King,” Sousa served as the Marine Band’s 17th Director from 1880-92, and his standard of excellence is still woven into the fabric of the band to this day. To add to the excitement of the performance, Col John R. Bourgeois, USMC (Ret.), Director Emeritus, will conduct two selections, including Jacques Offenbach’s Galop from Geneviève de Brabant, which is credited as the melodic origin of The Marines’ Hymn! Plus, Guest Moderator Loras John Schissel, a senior musicologist at the Library of Congress, will share his wealth of knowledge about pieces on the program.

Location: First Congregational United Church of Christ

Date & Time: Sunday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.

Program: View Here

Description: Marine Chamber Ensembles take the stage for this concert at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, DC, featuring Edward Gregson’s Three Dance Episodes performed by a brass septet, plus, Franz Schubert’s “Der Hirt auf dem Felsen” (“The Shepherd on the Rock”) will dazzle listeners with its clarinet and vocal duet. Flutist Staff Sgt. Christina Hughes and harpist Staff Sgt. Taylor Fleshman perform a duet on William Alwyn’s Niades. Alwyn was a prolific composer described by contemporaries as “avant-garde,” and also wrote concerti for violin, viola, oboe, and piano, five symphonies, song cycles and three large-scale operas.  

Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

Date & Time: Sunday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.

Program: View Here

Description: This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, and this program of all-American composers celebrates the incredible milestone. Marine Band Assistant Director 1st Lt Jose Toranzo programmed iconic Americana works, starting off strong with Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland, known as the “Dean of American Music.” Originally commissioned by the Cincinnati Symphony during WWII to honor the everyday American, the fanfare is unmatched in its compelling emotional depth. George Whitefield Chadwick, famous for his eclectic and folk-like flair, brings a European-romanticism style to the program with his jaunty and joyful Sinfonietta in D. Plus, David Diamond’s Music for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is just as dramatic as the play itself, featuring distinctive tonal and modal harmonies.  

Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

Date & Time: Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.

Program: Coming Soon

Description: Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America combines his original orchestral composition with first-person narrations of seven immigrants who entered the United States through Ellis Island between 1910 and 1940. Nominated for Best Classical Contemporary Composition at the 48th annual Grammy Awards, the work is illustrated by projected images, detailing the history of those who have passed through the island in efforts to live the "American Dream." This concert also features George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare and John Philip Sousa’s "Hands Across the Sea."

Location: Truman Crawford Hall at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. 

Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.

Program: N/A

Description: High school students from around the nation will perform in the final round of the Marine Band Concerto Competition, presented as a recital open to the public in Truman Crawford Hall at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. Finalists for this year’s competition were chosen from a competitive pool of exceptional high school string musicians, and the winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and a solo opportunity with the Marine Band. Second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500 scholarships respectively. Come cheer on these exceptional young musicians! 

Location: Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center

Date & Time: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.

Program: View Here

Description: Coordinated by Gunnery Sgt. Connor Mikula of “The President’s Own,” this performance features a variety of works for woodwinds, brass, strings and percussion. Featuring 14 different members of “The President’s Own,” this concert is anchored by Francis Poulenc’s first major chamber work, his three-movement Trio, FP 43.

Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

Date & Time: Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.

Program: View Here

Description: Experience a “Musical Tapestry” from both contemporary and classic American composers with a concert featuring quintessential American compositions including John Philip Sousa’s “From Maine to Oregon” alongside modern pieces such as Dwayne Milburn’s American Hymnsong Suite and William Bolcom’s Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet and Band. Audiences will love Charles Ives’ Variations on “America,” written when the composer was just eighteen. This set of variations was originally written for the composer to play on organ, but the young Ives was forbidden to perform it by his father, who found the variations irreverent. 

Location: St. Mark’s Capitol Hill

Date & Time: Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

Program: Coming Soon

Description: Coordinated by Staff Sgt. Bridget Piccirilli of “The President’s Own,” Reflection Across the Atlantic: Franco-American Chamber Dialogues features prominent works by wind band composers. François Devienne's Bassoon Quartet in C Major, Op. 73 No. 1 anchors the performance and gives a unique spotlight to the bassoon. Works by Samuel Barber bring a neo-Romantic style to the program with his bluesy and playful Summer Music, Op. 31. The concert closes with George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, which blends jazzy melodies and French can-can tunes to create a listening atmosphere that will transport you to Paris.  

Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

Date & Time: Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m.

Program: Coming Soon

Description: This concert will feature a lineup of American works and highlight one of the most recognizable quartets in the American orchestral repertoire: Samuel Barber’s String Quartet in B minor, Opus 11, with “Adagio for Strings” embedded as the second movement. Barber composed the Adagio at the age of 26 while living in Austria. He was so proud of it that he wrote to a friend: “I have just finished the slow movement of my quartet today—it is a knockout!”  

The program will also include the world première of Kenji Bunch's latest work, the genre-defying son of a Japanese immigrant, as well as works by other influential American classical composers: Arthur Foote was a leading member of the “Boston Six”—composers who moved away from European music styles and characteristics—and Florence Price was the first African-American woman to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra.  

Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

Date & Time: Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m.

Program: Coming Soon

Description: Featuring a lineup comprised completely of 20th Century American composers, this program begins with a march by John Philip Sousa which serves as an homage to President of the United States George Washington, and continues with works that convey the distinctly American classical sound. Aaron Copland drew inspiration from American folk songs and delights with the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts” in Old American Songs, Set One; Morton Gould’s Symphony for Band: West Point evokes the sounds of the military academy; and William Schuman’s New England Triptych (after the music of William Billings) captures the melodies and themes of Billings in a fusion of styles and musical language resulting in the iconic movements “Be Glad Then, America,” When Jesus Wept,” and “Chester.” 

Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Date & Time: Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.

Program: Coming Soon

Description: Coordinated by Gunnery Sgt. Chris Larios of “The President’s Own,” this chamber music performance features contemporary works for brass and woodwinds. Ernesto Lecuonas’ Danzas Afro-Cubanas is a collection of dances reflective of Lecuonas’ Afro-Cuban heritage. Enrique Crespo’s Suite Americana has become a staple in brass music repertoire due to its diverse styles, taking the listener on a journey through the Americas. The concert closes with James Mobberly’s Icarus Wept. Loosely inspired by the legend of Icarus flying into the sun, the work’s movements reflect themes of Icarus’ journey in the sky.

Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

Date & Time: Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m.

Program: Coming Soon

Description: The Marine Chamber Orchestra will pay homage to America and all its natural wonders by performing Olivier Messiaen’s monumental Des canyons aux étoiles (From the canyons to the stars) which was commissioned and performed for the America bicentennial in 1976. While preparing the work in 1972, Messiaen visited Utah, where he was inspired by the birds and the landscape, particularly at colorful Bryce Canyon. Additionally, the winner of the annual Concerto Competition hosted by “The President’s Own” will perform his or her solo with the orchestra, capping a musical afternoon not to be missed.

Location: The Music Center at Strathmore

Date & Time: Sunday, April 26 at 4 p.m.

Program: Coming Soon

Description: In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, “The President’s Own” will collaborate with celebrated artist Michael Feinstein, the nation’s premiere expert in the history, interpretation and performance of the Great American Songbook.

Feinstein and Marine Band Director LtCol Ryan Nowlin have curated a program honoring America’s history with “standards” that are now part of the American soundtrack and national identity. The Marine Jazz Orchestra will perform alongside Feinstein, showcasing songs from Hollywood and the Broadway stage, to include songs by Irving Berlin and Ira and George Gershwin. 

The concert is free but tickets are required. Patrons may request up to two free tickets online at strathmore.org and in person at the Strathmore Ticket Office on a space-available basis beginning March 26. Tickets are valid until 3:45 p.m., at which time all tickets become null and void and any remaining seats will be filled with patrons in the stand-by queue. 

Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

Date & Time: Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m.

Program: Coming Soon

Description: This unique concert will feature a melting pot of musical styles and cultural influences. Michael Daugherty’s Labyrinth of Love is inspired by the love poetry and prose of eight different female poets, each from different cultures all over the world, while Zhou Tian’s Sinfonia is a collage of musical postcards each highlighting a time or place that is close to the composer’s heart. Don’t miss this confluence of culture through music!