Marine Band San Diego, Recruit Depot Band, Depot Band


Marine Band San Diego

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Logo
Marine Corps Recruit Depot
San Diego, California

01

2025 Tournament of Roses Parade

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Weasley Hayes, drum major, Marine Band San Diego, leads the West Coast Composite Band in the 136th Rose Parade in...

02

Toys for Tots: Hollywood Christmas Parade 2024

Retired and active duty U.S. Marines walk the red carpet with Santa Clause during the 92nd Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California, Dec....

03

Marine Band San Diego and Bruno Little Italy Tree Lighting Event

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Band San Diego, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, perform at the Little Italy...

04

Marine Band San Diego Performs at Salesian High School

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chandler Ash, trombonist with Marine Band San Diego, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San...

05

Marines in Hollywood

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Band San Diego perform during the 92nd Hollywood Parade in Hollywood, California, Dec. 1, 2024. Marine Band San Diego...

06

Hotel Company Motivational Run

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jake Maine, a saxophone musician with Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, plays a solo...

07

San Francisco 49ers Salute to Service Game

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chandler Ash with Marine Band San Diego, performs during the pregame show before the San Francisco 49ers Salute to...

08

San Diego Veterans Day Parade

U.S. Marines with Marine Band San Diego march in the San Diego Veterans Day Parade in San Diego, California, Nov. 11, 2024. The Marine Band San...

09

Staff Sgt. Chandler performs God Bless America at PETCO Park Stadium

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Adam Chandler a musician with Marine Band San Diego, performs God Bless America at PETCO Park Stadium San Diego, Oct. 8,...

10

Fox Company Graduation

U.S. Marine Band San Diego performs during a graduation ceremony for Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San...

 

april

 

9 April - MCCS Pinwheels and Pages - MCRD San Diego, CA

11 April - University of San Diego NROTC Pass-in Review Ceremony - San Diego, CA

13 April - San Diego Yacht Club Opening - San Diego, CA 



MAY


4 May - San Diego Legion Military Appreciation Game - San Diego, CA

18 May - Southwestern Yacht Club Opening Day Ceremony -San Diego, CA

26 May - Ft. Rosecrans Memorial Day Ceremony - San Diego, CA

 

June

8 June - Grand Floral Parade - Portland, OR

Performance Request Process

To request Marine Band San Diego, complete the following steps:

1. Complete a military request form or civilian request form

2. Submit the completed request form to mcrdsd_band@usmc.mil

Once the form is received and reviewed, a representative from the band will reach out regarding the request.

 

Public & Civic Events

Marine musicians perform a wide variety of military and civic events such as ceremonies, parades, festivals, public concerts, educational outreach, and professional sporting events. Music support utilizes a variety of ensemble configurations to include wind ensemble, ceremonial band, brass band, jazz combo, popular music group, brass quintet, jazz ensemble, and bugler.

Whether a traditional concert hall, outdoor venue, or parade, military band performances must be free and open to the public. Marine Bands may perform at fairs, exhibitions, and similar venues with admission fees if the performance is incidental to the primary event and no additional fee is charged to hear the band perform. Additional restrictions may apply. 

Policy & Legal Restrictions

1. U.S. Military participation does not imply endorsement of the event or the organization hosting the event. The requested information is required to evaluate the event. Please complete all sections.

2. Armed Forces musical units are organized for ceremonial and traditional purposes and to support recruiting activities. However, they may be authorized to provide certain specified presentations, such as patriotic ceremonies for public programs. Armed Forces musical organizations are not permitted to provide entertainment, background, dinner, dance or other social music at public or private events in competition with the customary or regular employment of local civilian musicians. Limited resources permit only one band and/or choir to perform at an event, and the Military Services reserve the right to cancel support to requesters who have scheduled more than one such military unit.

3. Department of Defense (DoD) policies require that Armed Forces participation in public events will be provided at no additional cost to the Government, which means un-programmed costs incurred solely because of participation in or support of an unplanned activity. For example, additional costs to the Government include unplanned travel and transportation, meals and lodging for military personnel away from Government mess, civilian per diem, and overtime pay. Unsolicited contributions of money, personal property, or services (e.g., gifts in kind for lodging, meals, transportation) may be accepted for the benefit of military musical units for events that align with the DoD's mission. All costs are binding after a unit, personnel, or exhibit has arrived at an event site, even though weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances force the event to be cancelled.

4. Requests should be submitted to the appropriate Military Service not less than 30 days in advance of a scheduled program. Final determination will occur no earlier than 90 days in advance. Please realize that all Armed Forces units have specific military missions and training requirements. Participation in public programs will only be authorized when such support is in the best interests of the DoD and the Military Services and does not interfere with mission or training programs. In all cases, operational commitments must take priority and can cause previously scheduled appearances to be cancelled.

EMAIL

mcrdsd_band@usmc.mil

Phone

Commercial: (619) 524-1754

DSN: 524-1754

Mailing AddresS

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Band
1400 Russell Avenue
San Diego, CA 92140-5594

Mission

The primary mission of Marine Band San Diego is to support the Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region and other depot organizations. Additionally, the band performs a wide variety of music at military ceremonies and civilian events throughout San Diego County and across the United States.

History

For nearly a century, Marine Band San Diego has thrilled countless thousands throughout the country with its inspiring renditions of patriotic music, classical literature, Big Band and Top 40 favorites, and of course, the marches of John Philip Sousa.
 
The primary mission of Marine Band San Diego is to provide musical support for military and civic ceremonies. In addition, the fifty Marines of the band perform in several different ensembles: concert band, marching band, brass quintet, woodwind quintet, jazz combo, rock band, and brass band.
 
In order to encourage music education and showcase the vibrant history and tradition of military music, the band is active in providing clinics and concerts for high school and college students throughout the western United States; serving as musical role models for developing musicians.
 
Among the band’s most popular performances are the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Holiday Bowl Parade, and annual summer and winter concerts. The band also appears regularly at various professional sporting events such as San Diego Padres and Arizona Cardinals home games. Recent appearances include performances at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Lincoln Center in New York City, The Hollywood Christmas Parade, and the Tournament of Roses Parade. For the past 3 years, Marine Band San Diego has been selected to perform during Marine Week in Phoenix, Arizona, Nashville, Tennessee, and Detroit, Michigan. Altogether, the band performs more than 350 appearances each year. 

Marine Band San Diego Leaders

Portrait of Warrant Officer Megan Harper
Warrant Officer Megan Harper
Officer in Charge

Warrant Officer Harper enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2009 and attended recruit training at

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Portrait of Master Sergeant Fritz Kern
Master Sergeant Fritz Kern
Staff Non-commissioned Officer in Charge

Master Sergeant Frederick Kern enlisted in the Marine Corps in October of 2003.  After completing

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Portrait of Master Sergeant William Pierce
Master Sergeant William Pierce
Production Manager

Master Sergeant Pierce assumed his current billet as the Production Manager for Marine Band San

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Portrait of Gunnery Sergeant Wesley Hayes
Gunnery Sergeant Wesley Hayes
Drum Major

Gunnery Sergeant Hayes enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 2012 and attended recruit training at

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Portrait of Staff Sergeant William Hershey
Staff Sergeant William Hershey
Instrument Repair Technician

Staff Sergeant Hershey is currently serving as the Instrument Repair Technician for Marine Band San

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Portrait of Staff Sergeant Ren Ponsor-Dechant
Staff Sergeant Ren Ponsor-Dechant
Enlisted Conductor

Staff Sergeant Ponsor-DeChant joined the Marine Corps in October of 2012. After completing Recruit

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