Lt. Col. Ryan J. Nowlin makes his public debut as 29th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, kicking off the season with a tribute to John Philip Sousa. Sousa was only 25 years old when asked by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to serve as the band’s 17th Director. In 12 years, Sousa simultaneously transitioned "The President's Own" from a local military band into a world-renowned musical organization and transformed himself into a national celebrity known as "The March King." Sousa’s musical interests were often reflected in his programmatic style, as is represented in this performance. At the helm, he brought orchestral music to the masses through wind band transcriptions, highlighted the virtuosic skill of soloists, and unabashedly inserted his own compositions into the mix, a programming structure that is still emulated by the Marine Band today.
Learn more about the Marine Band: www.marineband.marines.mil