Marine Chamber Orchestra: Musical Firsts - Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. - From two different centuries and very different worlds, Sergei Prokofiev and Georges Bizet both wrote their first symphonies while students, Prokofiev at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1917, and Bizet at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1855. While already an established composer, Johann Nepomuk Hummel followed Joseph Haydn in composing a trumpet concerto for a well-known Viennese virtuoso, and has since become one of the most performed works for trumpet. Hear these contrasting musical firsts in our first performance at the Ernst Theater in Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale campus. The concert is free and no tickets are required.

Chamber Music Series - Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. - Coordinated by trumpeter Staff Sgt. Robert Bonner, the concert will feature various ensembles formed by members of "The President's Own" performing unique selections, including a violin and piano duo; brass ensembles; a trombone quartet; and woodwind and string ensembles. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will take place at John Philip Sousa Band Hall in southeast Washington, D.C., and stream live on the Marine Band website.

Marine Band Concert: Signs and Symbols - Sunday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. - This program takes its inspiration from the deeper meaning expressed in certain fascinating symbols and signs found in the everyday world. From the American patriotism embodied by the form of the eagle and the ancient religious meaning imbued in other animals, to the symbolism found in poetry and song, the collection of new and classic works on this concert explore the way in which music brings these signs and symbols to life. The second half of the program is dedicated to the colorful music of Spanish composer Manuel de Falla and his beautifully crafted ballet The Three-Cornered Hat, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will take place at Northern Virginia Community College's Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria. Cover images credit: Pablo Picasso / Original Set and Costume Designs for the Ballet The Three-Cornered Hat