The latest album from the Marine Band, “John Williams and ‘The President's Own’ Volume 3,” will be available for streaming on July 4, 2026.

Recorded live in concert on July 16, 2023, Maestro John Williams conducted the Marine Band for its 225th anniversary celebration. The album serves as a celebration of the Marine Band’s relationship with Williams, their entwined legacies, and their shared role in the nation’s identity and spirit.

This latest release is the third volume in a collection of music composed or arranged by Williams and captures the comradery, respect and joy of this momentous performance by the maestro and “The President's Own.” Launched on the nation’s 250th anniversary, this album is a testament to the Marine Band’s role in America’s global presence.

Williams’ music is an important part of the American musical lexicon and has proliferated popular culture across the globe. His compositions for film, television, and the concert stage, as well as countless significant national and international events, play a major role in defining the “American sound.”

As former Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig, USMC (Ret.), remarked in his introduction of the band’s 2003 anniversary gala, “Williams really doesn't need an introduction because whether you know it or not, you probably hear his music everyday. It is as much a part of the fabric of our American culture as John Philip Sousa’s was 100 years ago.”

Download the CD Booklet

Williams’ close relationship with the Marine Band began in 2003 when he accepted an invitation to conduct his music for the ensemble’s 205th anniversary gala concert. Following that initial partnership, Williams then chose the band to perform as part of his Kennedy Center Honors tribute performance in 2004.

He returned for the band’s 210th anniversary, which featured several new transcriptions of Williams’ works for film, the Olympics and other major events. Since that concert, those selections have become standards in the concert band repertoire. His continual collaboration includes subsequent guest appearances on the podium in 2008, 2009 and 2019, as well as an original composition by Williams entitled “For ‘The President’s Own.’” 

Williams traveled to Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2013 to conduct a reading and recording of his generous gift to the Marine Band. That recording is featured as a bonus track on Volume 2 of this collection.

For the celebration of the Marine Band’s 225th anniversary, Williams once again graciously accepted an invitation to conduct the band in concert. This treasured friendship was honored when Maestro Williams received a new title: Honorary Marine. The title was conferred by former Commandant of the Marine Corps General David H. Berger and presented by then-Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith for his “unwavering support and devotion to Corps and Country.” 

The title of Honorary Marine was conferred by former Commandant of the Marine Corps General David H. Berger, and was presented by then-Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith.

The title was simply one way to recognize the relationship between the musical giant, “The President’s Own” and the Marine Corps while honoring the composer’s generosity with his time and talents. The announcement was complete with the band’s proud and perfect performance of The Marines’ Hymn, which can be heard on this latest release.

Watch Video of Williams’ conferral

This album includes familiar favorites from Williams’ award-winning discography, including selections from Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Lincoln, and of course Star Wars. Williams graciously programmed selections that highlight the unrivaled sound of the Marine Band and its soloists. 

March from 1941 was a cornerstone of Maestro Williams’ programming for this concert. In rehearsals, Williams said to the band, “This is the reason I came here. I wanted to hear you all play this.” 

During the concert, Williams told the audience that he recently asked a member of a well-known orchestra, “Do you know what the bass drum sounds like in the Marine Band? Make it sound like that.” After he finished conducting the piece, he proclaimed that the Marine Band has the “greatest bass drum ever of all time,” and joked that “there’s a secret to it that you all are hiding.”

Listeners will notice another familiar name among the track listings: Principal trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and former Marine Band trumpet and cornet player, Thomas Hooten. Hooten performs "With Malice Toward None" from the film Lincoln as soloist with his former colleagues and shines in his reverent and moving presentation of Williams’ iconic melody.

“It’s exciting and nerve wracking because the band plays at such a high level,” said Hooten. “There’s no other band like this in the world, and playing with John Williams is the chance of a lifetime. When you combine those two things, it’s really unique and special.”

Featuring arrangements by Paul Lavender, Williams and Lt. Col. Ryan J. Nowlin, this release captures some of the most tender and riveting moments of Williams’ works and celebrates the iconic role of American film music.

“John Williams and ‘The President's Own,’ Volume 3” is available for streaming starting July 4. Listen on all platforms, and check out the album page here.