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.

Our mission is to provide musical support for ceremonies, functions, and other occasions aboard military installations and throughout the civilian community. We accomplish this through the employment of several musical ensembles, including a marching band, a concert wind ensemble, and small ensembles.

Marine Forces Pacific Band
Box 63087
MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI 96863-3087

Commercial: (808) 496-7440
DSN: (315) 496-7440

james.d.mathis@usmc.mil
                  or
monica.preston@usmc.mil

October 2023

More Performances Coming Soon!

Novermber 2023

The MARFORPAC Band was organized in the early 1900's with about a dozen members. The earliest available photographs show the band playing for Marines at Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor. The early activities of the band centered around the Marine Barracks, ranging from concerts in front of Puller Hall to morale performances at sporting events. Since the 1980's, the band had lived and worked in building #278 at Pearl Harbor. This building is significant, because the first fire returned from Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 came from the roof of this building. In 1993, the band moved to its current home at Marine Corps Base, Hawaii.

Today, under the direction of CWO4 Andres Navarro, the band is comprised of 45 Marines. All band members are fully trained riflemen and professional musicians. Our mission is to provide musical support for ceremonies, functions, and other occasions aboard military installations and throughout the civilian community. We accomplish this through the employment of several musical ensembles, including a marching band, a concert wind ensemble, and small ensembles. Over the past 150 years, we have performed all over the island of O’ahu and traveled around the Pacific to various locations including Tonga, Fiji, China, Australia, Saipan, and American Samoa. By design, we strive to inspire, improve morale, and instill in audiences a sense of pride and patriotism in our Country. We represent the core values, customs, and traditions of the United States Marine Corps.

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