United States Marine Band

The United States Marine Band, also known by the moniker "The President's Own," is an organization of about 160 members, 130 of whom are musicians. The USMB also includes the Marine Chamber Orchestra, various Marine chamber ensembles, the Marine Jazz Orchestra, and the country music offshoot Free Country. These ensembles typically perform in more than 500 concert events each year, including at the White House, Pentagon ceremonies, state funerals, and various other government and public events. Not surprisingly, the number of musicians appearing at an event can vary widely, with some performances featuring as few as two or three members, and others, like the spectacular displays put on for presidential inaugurations typically involving about 100 players. Band members serve at least four years, some as long as 20 or more. Though they are members of the United States Marines, they do not receive basic training or most other military training. Repertory is obviously broad, taking in John Philip Sousa and other American composers, as well as Hindemith, Prokofiev, Ives, Stravinsky, and, via transcription, Wagner, Richard Strauss, Schoenberg, and a host of others.

The United States Marine Band was founded in accordance with a July 11, 1798, act of Congress. It is thus not only the oldest American military band, but the oldest professional American musical organization. Although the USMB made its debut on August 21, 1800, its first major concert was given at the White House at the invitation of President John Adams on January 1, 1801. The ensemble also played for the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson that year (March 4) and has played for every presidential inauguration since.

There have been 27 directors of the USMB up through 2007, the first being William Farr and the most famous, the 14th, composer Sousa, who led the group from 1880-1892. He is generally credited with building the ensemble into the finest American band of its time. Other famous directors include: John R. Bourgeois (1979-1996), Timothy W. Foley (1996-2004), and Michael J. Colburn (2004-).

On May 17, 1922, the USMB appeared on its first radio broadcast and thereafter gave frequent performances over the airwaves. Over the years the ensemble grew in prominence and expanded in size, making numerous recordings and appearing at countless televised events. Its recordings are made available on the USMB's own label and from Naxos, Albany Records, Musical Heritage Society, and others. ~ Robert Cummings, Rovi