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.

Public & Civic Events

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 and 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.

Performance Request Process

Start your request for musical support by choosing the appropriate request form below. Once received, we will determine whether we can support your request. If your request is approved, a representative from the band will reach out to you for coordination. If your request is denied, you/your organization will receive an email explaining why your request is not eligible to receive support.

The primary mission of Marine Band San Diego is to support the Recruit Training Regiment and other depot organizations. Additionally, the band performs a wide variety of music at military ceremonies and civilian events throughout San Diego County and the southwestern United States.

CEREMONIAL MUSIC (MARINES.MIL)

TAPS (MARINES.MIL)

THE MARINES' HYMN

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

Commercial: (619) 524-1754
DSN: 524-1754

mcrdsd_band@usmc.mil

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. 

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