United States Marine Band

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band
The United States Marine Band at the White House in October 2007
Founded	July 11, 1798
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Military band
Size	160
Garrison/HQ	Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
Nickname(s)	"The President's Own"
March	"Marines' Hymn" (official hymn) Playⓘ "Semper Fidelis" (official march) Playⓘ
Website	www.marineband.marines.mil
Commanders
Director	Lieutenant Colonel Ryan J. Nowlin
Associate Director	Captain Darren Y. Lin
Assistant Director	First Lieutenant Jose D. Toranzo Infante
Director Of Operations	Lieutenant Colonel Douglas R. Burian
Deputy Director for Administration and Production	Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sara Sheffield
Drum Major	Master Gunnery Sergeant Duane F. King
Assistant Drum Major	Gunnery Sergeant James R. Holt III
Notable commanders	John Philip Sousa Colonel Michael J. Colburn Colonel Jason K. Fettig
Insignia
Logo

The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States. Today, the Marine Band includes the Marine Chamber Orchestra and Marine Chamber Ensembles.

The Marine Band is entirely separate from its sister military band, the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps ("The Commandant's Own") and the 10 active duty Marine Corps field bands.

The Marine Band has been uniquely known as "The President's Own" since 1801 due to its historical connection to the President of the United States. The relationship between the Marine Band and the White House began on New Year's Day 1801 when President John Adams invited the band to perform at the Executive Mansion. Later that year, Thomas Jefferson initiated the tradition of Marine Band performances by requesting that it perform at his inauguration. The Marine Band has played at every United States presidential inauguration since. President Thomas Jefferson gave it the title "The President's Own" in 1801. This terminology emulated a long-established British usage, where various military units were designated as "King's Own" or "Queen's Own".

Today, the Marine Band performs in about 500 events every year^{[1][non-primary source needed]} including state funerals, state arrival ceremonies, state dinners, parades, concerts, and other social events. The Marine Band travels across the country each October and November during its fall concert tour, a tradition that began in 1891 under its most famous director, composer John Philip Sousa.