Parris Island Marine Band

The Parris Island Marine Band provides musical support on behalf of the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, for Recruit Training Graduation Ceremonies, military ceremonies and functions, service-level strategic engagement, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, and throughout the civilian community as may be directed by proper authority. Marines of the Parris Island Marine Band maintain basic tactical skills and may be directed or required to serve in a non-music capacity during armed conflict or when the primary function is impractical.

A MUSICAL TRADITION

On October 28, 1915, the Department of the Navy officially transferred Marine Corps Recruit Training from Norfolk, Virginia, to Parris Island, South Carolina. Among the first 750 Marines to arrive were the Depot’s inaugural Bandmaster, Sergeant William Gauer, and its first Drum Major, Sergeant Anton Schnichowski. Together with a group of fellow Marine musicians, they formed the Parris Island Marine Band.
In addition to their performances, the band established a field music school that trained buglers—key figures in managing daily routines and battlefield signaling during the pre-radio era. These musicians also served as marksmanship and close combat instructors, providing invaluable support across units stationed at the Depot.

A WARRIOR LEGACY

A core principle of all Marine Corps field bands is that every member is a rifleman first and a musician second. To uphold this standard, each member of the Parris Island Marine Band maintains proficiency in fundamental Marine Corps tactical skills. This includes annual service rifle qualification, physical fitness and combat readiness tests, combat water survival training, and field exercises. Such rigorous preparation ensures that Marine musicians remain capable of performing as basic riflemen whenever duty calls.

ANSWERING THE CALL

Today, the Parris Island Marine Band consists of 46 enlisted Marines and one Warrant Officer. The unit provides musical support for the Recruit Training Regiment and performs at more than 40 recruit graduations each year. Highly adaptable, the band features multiple ensembles suited for a wide range of performances, including a wind ensemble, marching band, ceremonial band, big band, brass quintet, and jazz combo. Through these ensembles, the band serves as a proud musical ambassador of the Marine Corps, performing in concerts and parades across the United States, particularly throughout their home region in the Lowcountry community. Dedicated to a legacy of precision, readiness, and artistry, the Parris Island Marine Band continues to exemplify the highest standards of military professionalism and musical excellence—upholding the “Esprit de Corps” that defines the United States Marine Corps.

Location:
100 Lands End Road (Beach) 
St. Helena Island, South Carolina

Time: 12:00 p.m.

Ensemble: Brass Band

Description: The River Festival is an annual Labor Day weekend favorite for residents and visitors looking to enjoy cultural festivities along with the rich history of St. Helena Island.

For more information, click here.

Location:
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
3250 Airport Boulevard, West Columbia, SC

Time: 6:00 pm

Ensemble: Brass Quintet

Description: Join us in honoring the service of veterans of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam Era as they return home from Washington D.C. where they received military honors at the memorials of armed conflict. 

Location:
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park
Beaufort, South Carolina

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Description: Savor the best fresh-caught shrimp in the world during the 32nd Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival, featuring unique shrimp dishes from the region’s foremost restaurants and chefs.

For more information, click here.

Location:
Habersham Market
13 Market, Beaufort, SC

Time: 6:00 pm

Ensemble: Popular Music Group

Description: Come enjoy the Harvest Festival celebration with our Popular Music Group.

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Seating Capacity: 1,000 (venues with a seating capacity of less than 1,000 will be considered on a case-by-case basis)

Stage Size: 45 feet wide by 35 feet deep (This excludes space for the wings, an acoustic shell, curtains, backdrops, or downstage area in front of the band). Portable stages should not exceed 18 inches in elevation.

Floor Size: 50 feet by 50 feet. (Gymnasium set up, for example).

Storage Area: 2,500 square feet of accessible backstage space is recommended for the band’s equipment. This space must be in a secure, convenient location during the performance. Equipment cannot be stored outside the facility.

Stage Equipment: The Parris Island Marine Band provides its own stage risers, chairs, music stands, and conductor’s podium. If available on-site, the band prefers to perform with an acoustic shell.

Dressing Rooms: The Parris Island Marine Band requests two main dressing rooms for approximately 30 men and 10 women.
Dressing rooms must be located in the same facility as the concert venue and have access to restrooms separate from the audience. For schools, classrooms are okay to use as dressing rooms, as long as they can be secured the entire time the band is onsite. Windows must be covered for privacy.

Lighting: Overhead lighting should be white (no gels), bright enough to read newsprint without difficulty and should not hinder musicians’ ability to see the director. Downstage lighting must be adequate, as should any lighting for stage extensions. Please do not use spotlights. The site should provide a technician to operate the house lighting panel. Decorative background lighting is permissible, but not required. If available, red and blue lights are typically best suited for Parris Island Marine Band performances.

Audio Equipment: The Parris Island Marine Band provides its own audio equipment, including microphones, cables, mixer, and processing and graphic EQ, and can also provide a speaker system suitable for small and medium venues. However, when available, using the venue’s installed speaker system is preferred. Additional specifications are outlined below for venues with dedicated audio systems:
• When the installed house system is used, the Parris Island Marine Band recording engineer will provide a mono, line-level signal to the house mixer that should be routed through the house system at nominal level without EQ or compression.
• Sends for left, center, right, and fills can be provided as needed. These sends can come from the mix position or back stage right.
• A stage box, which includes preamps and wireless microphones, will be placed back stage right. This stage box requires a single, dedicated 20-amp outlet with isolated ground (sound power).
• The stage box will be connected to the mixer via a cat6 snake that must be run from the stage box to the mixer at the mix position.
• The mix position should be in-house, reachable with a 150 ft snake, and not located under a balcony/overhang. The mix position cannot be behind a window (removable or not).

Parking: The sponsor must provide parking as close as possible to the loading dock/area for a 26-foot-long box truck, one charter bus, and one 15 passenger van.

Security: Questions regarding security can be directed to the Parris Island Marine Band Enlisted Bandleader Master Gunnery Sgt. Frederick G. Kern IV at PARR_SMB_MCRDPI_BAND@usmc.mil

Misc.: The stage should not have any signs or banners.

Media Coverage: Media are often interested in sharing 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band concerts as a news item. TV stations may be willing to run the promotional video a week or two before the event. Radio may want to interview the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band’s director on air. A newspaper may post the press release and a photo on their website and social media. Contacting media is often as simple as emailing the news tip line or editor with the provided press release as the body of the email. Any requests for interviews should be directed to the Parris Island Marine Band Production Manager Staff Sgt. Steven Frigiola at: PARR_SMB_MCRDPI_BAND@usmc.mil

As a Marine musician, you'll have the opportunity to serve with one of the ten renowned Marine Corps Fleet bands throughout the world. All Marine musicians are assigned as instrumentalists / vocalists during their first enlistment. Follow-on career opportunities for leadership roles within the bands include: Directors, Enlisted Bandleaders, Ensemble Leaders (Enlisted Conductors /  Drum Majors), Production Managers, and Instrument Repair Technicians.

Instrumentalist / vocalist

Musicians perform in a Marine Corps Fleet Band for concerts, parades, ceremonies, and various other official functions in support of the Marine Corps Bands' mission. Musicians perform additional duties in support of band operations, such as supply, administrative assistant, and / or music librarian. Additional increased responsibilities relating to music performance are assigned based on grade / experience, such as instrument section leader or leader of a small ensemble.

Director

Directors serve as the officer-in-charge of Marine Corps Fleet Bands and primary conductor. Directors also manage, administer, and coordinate musical performances, develop budgets and annual operation plans, direct internal operations and training, and supervise the employment of a Marine Corps Fleet Band.

Enlisted Bandleader

Enlisted Bandleaders serve as the senior enlisted Marine of a Marine Corps Fleet Band. Enlisted Bandleaders assist and advise the Director in developing the musical proficiency of the band, planning and scheduling, and supervising the necessary administrative duties of a musical unit.

Ensemble Leader (Enlisted Conductor / Drum Major)

Ensemble Leaders direct, train and manage the musical performances of the full band, to include small ensembles. Additionally, they assist and advise the Director and Enlisted Bandleader on musical development, implementation of musical protocol for ceremonies. They lead the band in concerts, ceremonies, and / or on the march.

Production Manager

Production Managers manage the audio/visual production support for band operations to include: live sound reinforcement and recording, stage lighting, digital media production, and band marketing.

Instrument Repair Technician

Instrument Repair Technicians provide repair and maintenance of musical instruments assigned to a Marine Corps Fleet Band. Additionally, they assist in the purchasing plans of band equipment.

There are two essential elements to the audition process; you must establish your entrance qualifications as a musician and as a United States Marine. The Musician Placement Director is the Marine responsible for reviewing and certifying your musical qualification. A local Marine Corps recruiter will help you determine your Marine Corps entrance qualifications and guide your through the process of becoming a Marine.

In order to become eligible to serve as a Marine musician, musical proficiency must be established in accordance with Marine Corps Audition Standards. By following a two-round process, we establish an applicant's potential for service as a Marine musician. The first round is a screening round, wherein we learn about your musical background and establish the likelihood of you successfully meeting the requirements of the next round. Upon successful screening, you will be invited to participate in the audition round, which consists of a live audition proctored by the Musician Placement Director nearest to your geographical area. This audition round serves as the final assessment for establishing musical entrance qualifications for service as a Marine musician.
 

Screening Round

The screening round is used to establish your musical background and potential to succeed in the audition round. You will be asked to provide audio OR video recordings performing specified musical excerpts and a completed "Sign Up" form submission. 

Audio and video recording must be of a good quality and consist of all excerpts. Your local Musician Placement Director can provide specific guidance, should you have any questions.

Audition Round

Based on successful evaluation of the screening round, you may be invited to perform the audition round. The audition round consists of an in-person audition proctored by the Musician Placement Director nearest to your geographical area. During the audition round, you will perform specified excerpts and sight-read from a collection of short selections. Dates for the audition round are often published or, in some cases, individually scheduled. 

For more information regarding the audition process, including instrument-specific requirements, email: MarineMusic@marines.usmc.mil

To request an audition, visit our Audition Request Form.