In 1891, 17th Marine Band Director John Philip Sousa took “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band on its first tour after President Benjamin Harrison gave permission to take the band outside of Washington, D.C. That year, the band traveled to 32 cities in New England and the Midwest, beginning a tradition of national concert tours that continues today.

In March 1895, the Marine Band toured the southeastern and southwestern United States for the first time, its first tour under 18th Director Francesco Fanciulli. Now, 130 years later, “The President’s Own” will retrace many of those same steps as it embarks on its 2025 tour from Oct. 1-30, 2025. The concerts are free, but tickets are required.

This year, "The President's Own" United States Marine Band will tour from Washington, D.C., to the Southern United States, performing free, public concerts in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

Click here to view the 2025 tour schedule and reserve tickets

The 2025 tour begins with stops in Virginia and West Virginia before traveling to North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. “I've got a couple of special clarinet tricks up my sleeve for those Tennessee programs,” said Marine Band Director Lt. Col. Ryan Nowlin. “We’re lucky enough to have several members of that section hailing from the great state of Tennessee!”

Associate Director Capt. Darren Y. Lin added, “I’m particularly excited to spend some meaningful time in Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans– two areas with lots of history and great food!”

After leaving Arkansas behind, “The President’s Own” will take the state of Oklahoma by storm. “To be able to play five concerts in Oklahoma is a real treat,” Nowlin said.

The final leg of the 2025 tour takes the Marine Band to Texas for a total of nine performances across the Lone Star State. “Texas has so many storied band programs, and we’re thrilled to be visiting several of them on this tour,” Nowlin said. “For example, we're performing at the University of North Texas, where several of our members studied. UNT has such a historic band tradition, and I also love their jazz program.”

The band will also visit Texas A&M University in College Station, the alma mater of current Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith. “Texas A&M and their Corps of Cadets has produced so many accomplished Marines,” Nowlin said. Going there on the 250th anniversary of the Corps and it being the alma mater of our commandant is a special confluence of events, so that will be an incredible concert.”

The band has prepared three rotating programs to provide variety for patrons throughout the duration of the tour. Swapping the programs allows patrons who attend back-to-back concerts to hear a completely different collection of music and new soloists on each concert. “The President’s Own” typically features several instrumental soloists on its National Concert Tours, one for each concert program, in addition to a vocal soloist who also acts as concert moderator. The soloists represent a diverse cross section of the instruments in the band, which this year includes trombone, a clarinet and vibraphone duet and saxophone.

In addition to the dazzling array of music presented by the Marine Band on a nightly basis, Nowlin has selected a group of soloists to perform a rotating selection of special works at this year’s tour concerts. Lin describes this year’s tour solos:

“We have five fantastic soloists that we’ll feature on the road this year. Master Gunnery Sgt. Nomar Longoria will perform Jimmy Dorsey’s ‘Oodles of Noodles’ and possibly break the record for ‘most notes played on a saxophone within a three-and-a-half-minute span.’ Performing the classic trombone showpiece ‘Blue Bells of Scotland’ will be Gunnery Sgt. Russell Sharp. Gunnery Sgt. Shannon Kiewitt and Master Sgt. Gerald Novak will perform Benny & Lionel, a love letter to the great jazz masters Benny Goodman (clarinet) and Lionel Hampton (vibraphone.) Finally, our vocalist for this year’s tour, Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear, will perform several selections across the three programs ranging from famous Opera arias, Academy-Award winning songs, to hits by Sinatra.”

Learn more about the 2025 Marine Band tour soloists

Each of the three programs presented by the Marine Band will include a wide variety of musical styles from different eras sure to please every audience. “We'll do familiar marches and patriotic airs, but also American jazz and movie music, things that connect with popular culture,” Nowlin said. “It's guaranteed to instill pride and patriotism for everyone who’s able to attend!”

Lin added, “It’s a blast meeting the diverse crowds of people that come to see us perform: students, veterans, classical music fans, professional musicians, etc. Please come up and say hello when we’re in your area!”

In addition to fan favorites, Lin looks forward to introducing audiences to new compositions. “I’m excited to perform David Biedenbender’s ‘Enigma’ on tour, he said. “This piece won the Revelli Composition Contest in 2024 and is an exciting entry into the band repertory. I hope people like it as much as I do!”

Members of “The President’s Own” treat every tour as special, but 2025 has an extra sense of excitement. In 2025, the Marine Corps celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding in 1775. The occasion is being celebrated throughout the Corps, and the band is joining the party with several pieces on the 2025 tour programmed to recall the heritage and unique culture of the USMC.

“One highlight of our tour programs will be Robert Jager’s Esprit de Corps, which is a fantasy on the Marines’ Hymn. It’s high octane, full of energy and really portrays the might and power of the United States Marine Corps,” Nowlin said.

For many patrons, 2025 will be the first chance to see the Marine Band in action since 2015, when the Band last toured in this area. The band’s 2020 tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but members of “The President’s Own” are ready to return to this tour in 2025 with more enthusiasm than ever.

"I'm always excited about everything on tour,” Nowlin said. “I love bringing this band to the people across the country. It's an amazing experience to hear this band in action; there's nothing like it.”

The Marine Band’s 2025 National Concert Tour will take place Oct. 1-30. The performances are free but tickets are required. Times, dates, and location information may be found at marineband.marines.mil/tour.