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Come join the Marine Band for a special Young People’s Concert as it explores the musical connections between iconic Star Wars movie characters in a fun and educational program the whole family will enjoy! Featuring the popular music of John Williams, the audience will learn what it is about the music that makes a character seem evil, good, loveable, or goofy. The performance will also feature members of the 501st and Rebel Legions in full Star Wars costumes. Make sure to stick around after the concert for photos with your favorite characters! Star Wars costumes welcome! The concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 30, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall. Free admission and parking. - Come join the Marine Band for a special Young People’s Concert as it explores the musical connections between iconic Star Wars movie characters in a fun and educational program the whole family will enjoy! Featuring the popular music of John Williams, the audience will learn what it is about the music that makes a character seem evil, good, loveable, or goofy. The performance will also feature members of the 501st and Rebel Legions in full Star Wars costumes. Make sure to stick around after the concert for photos with your favorite characters! Star Wars costumes welcome! The concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 30, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall. Free admission and parking.

This concert will include works by some of Great Britain’s most prominent composers, including Sir Arthur Sullivan’s Overture to Iolanthe; Benjamin Britten’s Suite on English Folk Tunes, Opus 90; and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Concerto in F minor for Bass Tuba and Orchestra, featuring assistant principal tuba Gunnery Sgt. Franklin Crawford. The program will close with Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D, London. Although Haydn was Austrian, he made several extended stays in England and composed his last 12 symphonies in London which garnered that body of work the nickname of the “London Symphonies.” The concert will take place at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 23, at Howard Community College's Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center in Columbia, Md. Free parking.Free tickets required. For tickets, call HCC Box Office at 443-518-1500. - This concert will include works by some of Great Britain’s most prominent composers, including Sir Arthur Sullivan’s Overture to Iolanthe; Benjamin Britten’s Suite on English Folk Tunes, Opus 90; and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Concerto in F minor for Bass Tuba and Orchestra, featuring assistant principal tuba Gunnery Sgt. Franklin Crawford. The program will close with Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D, London. Although Haydn was Austrian, he made several extended stays in England and composed his last 12 symphonies in London which garnered that body of work the nickname of the “London Symphonies.” The concert will take place at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 23, at Howard Community College's Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center in Columbia, Md. Free parking. Free tickets required. For tickets, call HCC Box Office at 443-518-1500.

This concert will feature 2017 Concerto Competition winner French horn player Shawn Zheng performing Richard Strauss’ Allegro from Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat. The program will feature another winner: the champion march from the Marine Band’s annual “Sousa’s March Mania” tournament. The concert will also include fantastic staples of the wind band repertoire, and a commemorative new arrangement in honor of Ella Fitzgerald’s centennial birthday. The concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 9, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va. Free admission and parking. - This concert will feature 2017 Concerto Competition winner French horn player Shawn Zheng performing Richard Strauss’ Allegro from Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat. The program will feature another winner: the champion march from the Marine Band’s annual “Sousa’s March Mania” tournament. The concert will also include fantastic staples of the wind band repertoire, and a commemorative new arrangement in honor of Ella Fitzgerald’s centennial birthday. The concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 9, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va. Free admission and parking.

Coordinated by clarinetist Master Gunnery Sgt. Elizabeth Matera, this concert will feature several different ensembles formed by members of “The President’s Own,” including a brass choir, percussion trio, and string and wind ensembles. The concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 2, in John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex. Admission is free and free parking is available under the overpass on 7th street across from the Annex. - Coordinated by clarinetist Master Gunnery Sgt. Elizabeth Matera, this concert will feature several different ensembles formed by members of “The President’s Own,” including a brass choir, percussion trio, and string and wind ensembles. The concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 2, in John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex. Admission is free and free parking is available under the overpass on 7th street across from the Annex.

Countless painters, authors, and composers have shared their most deeply felt impressions of nature’s inspiration through their craft, from the iconic ballet suite Appalachian Spring that is essentially Aaron Copland’s portrait of the American countryside, to Jean Sibelius’ legendary Fifth Symphony. With string tremolos and the great “swan theme,” one can easily imagine swans preparing to take flight. The concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 26, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va. Admission and parking are free. A harp and flute duo will perform pre-concert music in the lobby beginning at 1:15 p.m. - Countless painters, authors, and composers have shared their most deeply felt impressions of nature’s inspiration through their craft, from the iconic ballet suite Appalachian Spring that is essentially Aaron Copland’s portrait of the American countryside, to Jean Sibelius’ legendary Fifth Symphony. With string tremolos and the great “swan theme,” one can easily imagine swans preparing to take flight. The concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 26, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va. Admission and parking are free. A harp and flute duo will perform pre-concert music in the lobby beginning at 1:15 p.m.

The music on this program explores such themes as politics, patriotism, religion, and art from a uniquely American perspective and includes the world première of a major new symphony for band by Jacob Bancks, written specifically for “The President’s Own.” Also, Philadelphia Orchestra principal clarinet Ricardo Morales will perform Jonathan Leshnoff’s stunning new Clarinet Concerto, originally written for Morales. Rounding out the program are works by John Philip Sousa and Samuel Barber that give a nod to our nation’s original capital city. The concert will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Center in Alexandria, Va. Admission and parking are free. A string quartet will perform pre-concert music in the lobby at 1:15 p.m. - The music on this program explores such themes as politics, patriotism, religion, and art from a uniquely American perspective and includes the world première of a major new symphony for band by Jacob Bancks, written specifically for “The President’s Own.” Also, Philadelphia Orchestra principal clarinet Ricardo Morales will perform Jonathan Leshnoff’s stunning new Clarinet Concerto, originally written for Morales. Rounding out the program are works by John Philip Sousa and Samuel Barber that give a nod to our nation’s original capital city. The concert will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Center in Alexandria, Va. Admission and parking are free. A string quartet will perform pre-concert music in the lobby at 1:15 p.m.

Coordinated by trumpeter/cornetist Staff Sgt. James McClarty, the Chamber Music Series concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 12, at the John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex in southeast Washington, D.C. This concert will feature several different ensembles formed by members of “The President’s Own,” and will include the original work Overture for Euphoniums and Tubas by Marine Band clarinetist Staff Sgt. Parker Gaims. The concert is free and no tickets are required. - Coordinated by trumpeter/cornetist Staff Sgt. James McClarty, the Chamber Music Series concert will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 12, at the John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex in southeast Washington, D.C. This concert will feature several different ensembles formed by members of “The President’s Own,” and will include the original work Overture for Euphoniums and Tubas by Marine Band clarinetist Staff Sgt. Parker Gaims. The concert is free and no tickets are required.

Come enjoy a performance by the Marine Jazz Orchestra at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 5, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va. The program embraces some of the internationally popular big band classics that continue to delight and unite people across the decades and throughout the world. Performance selections include works by Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, and former Marine Band arranger Sammy Nestico, as well as a new arrangement of Chick Corea’s Spain by Mike Crotty. Admission and parking are free. A bass and piano duo will perform pre-concert music in the lobby beginning at 1:15 p.m. - Come enjoy a performance by the Marine Jazz Orchestra at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 5, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va. The program embraces some of the internationally popular big band classics that continue to delight and unite people across the decades and throughout the world. Performance selections include works by Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, and former Marine Band arranger Sammy Nestico, as well as a new arrangement of Chick Corea’s Spain by Mike Crotty. Admission and parking are free. A bass and piano duo will perform pre-concert music in the lobby beginning at 1:15 p.m.

Guest conductor, composer, and former music director of the Seattle Symphony Gerard Schwarz returns to the podium of “The President’s Own” to lead this showcase of original masterpieces for band at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Center in Alexandria, Va. This concert celebrates some of the cornerstones of the band repertoire created over the past century. Highlights include Gustav Holst’s Suite No. 1 in E-flat, Opus 28, No.1; Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in B-flat for Band; and William Schuman’s New England Triptych. Admission and parking are free. No tickets are required. - Guest conductor, composer, and former music director of the Seattle Symphony Gerard Schwarz returns to the podium of “The President’s Own” to lead this showcase of original masterpieces for band at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26, at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Center in Alexandria, Va. This concert celebrates some of the cornerstones of the band repertoire created over the past century. Highlights include Gustav Holst’s Suite No. 1 in E-flat, Opus 28, No.1; Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in B-flat for Band; and William Schuman’s New England Triptych. Admission and parking are free. No tickets are required.

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 March 4 through April 3, “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 April 3, 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 April 4. In order to win “Sousa’s March Mania” you must obtain a perfect bracket, completed prior to the start of the first game at 9 a.m., on March 4 (honor system). If you win, you’ll be named an honorary “March King” for a day! Participants are also invited to share completed brackets with the Marine Band by emailing them to marineband.publicaffairs@usmc.mil or posting to facebook.com/marineband. - 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 March 4 through April 3, “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 April 3, 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 April 4. In order to win “Sousa’s March Mania” you must obtain a perfect bracket, completed prior to the start of the first game at 9 a.m., on March 4 (honor system). If you win, you’ll be named an honorary “March King” for a day! Participants are also invited to share completed brackets with the Marine Band by emailing them to marineband.publicaffairs@usmc.mil or posting to facebook.com/marineband.