John Philip Sousa – one of the most recognizable names in the wind band music world – was the 17th Director of the Marine Band. During his time as leader of the band, he ushered in a new era of excellence within the organization: a standard upheld by every director and musician since.

To honor his legacy, the Marine Band opens every spring concert season with a tribute to Sousa. Join the Marine Band for this annual tradition at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria. The concert will also be livestreamed via the Marine Band’s YouTube channel.

View Program

Enjoy the many sides of Sousa with a program that puts his musical versatility on full display. Concertgoers can expect to hear iconic and beloved marches as well as lesser known yet exceptionally delightful Sousa pieces, including a waltz and a suite for band.

This star-studded program features two special guests: Loras John Schissel as a guest moderator and Col. John Bourgeois, USMC (Ret.), Director Emeritus of the Marine Band as a guest conductor.

Schissel, an extremely accomplished conductor, composer and musicologist, is a senior musicologist at the Library of Congress as well as the leading expert on the music of Leonard Bernstein, Percy Grainger and Aaron Copland. Over the course of his career, he has composed over 500 works for a variety of musical groups, conducted many prestigious ensembles and founded the Virginia Grand Military Band. As the guest moderator, he’ll share his wealth of knowledge about pieces on the program.

Bourgeois was the 25th Director of “The President’s Own” from 1979-96 and served as music adviser to the White House. He led the band on its first overseas performances to the Netherlands and the former Soviet Union and left an indelible mark on the band. Bourgeois will return to conduct two selections: Hector Berlioz’s Trojan March from Les Troyens and Jacques Offenbach’s Galop from Geneviève de Brabant, which is credited as the melodic origin of The Marines’ Hymn.

The program also features two lively solo performances. Soprano Staff Sgt. Hannah Davis is the vocal soloist on Sousa’s “The Crystal Lute.” This waltz piece was originally part of Sousa’s 1913 operetta The American Maid, set during the Spanish-American War.  

Clarinetist Gunnery Sgt. Samuel Ross will perform Pablo de Sarasate’s famous Carmen fantaisie, Opus 25, which contains some of the most revered themes from George Bizet’s opera Carmen. Ross said the following about the piece:

“Carmen is one of the most performed operas of all time, in part because of its iconic melodies and lyricism. This is a piece that makes the many hours of practicing scales and arpeggios in school feel worth it! The composition demands intense velocity and control, the likes of which should hopefully keep the listener on the edge of their seat.”

In addition to these featured works and Sousa pieces, the band will perform Patrick Gilmore’s When Johnny Comes Marching Home and Richard Wagner’s Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin. Don’t miss out on this action-packed program to kick off the 2026 concert season! The performance is free; tickets are not required.  

Parking and Directions