"The President's Own" United States Marine Band Performs Free Concert at Moss Center, Oct. 16

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band will perform a free concert at the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 8 p.m. The performance is part of Miami-Dade 250, the county's commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States — a series of events honoring Miami-Dade's role in the American story through themes of resilience, diversity, migration, and civic pride.

Founded in 1798 by an Act of Congress, the Marine Band was established to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. It has performed for every U.S. President since John Adams. President Thomas Jefferson gave the band its title — "The President's Own" — in 1801, and the organization has held it for more than two centuries.

Marine Band Director Lt. Col. Ryan Nowlin has programmed the October 16 concert in the style of the band's 17th director, John Philip Sousa, who launched the concert tour tradition in 1891. The program will include traditional band repertoire, Sousa marches, contemporary compositions, vocal and instrumental solos, and a patriotic salute to the Armed Forces.

The musicians of "The President's Own" are active-duty Marines who enlist for permanent duty with the band. Selected through auditions comparable to those held by professional symphony orchestras, they are graduates of leading music schools — more than 60% hold advanced degrees in music. At the White House, Marine Band musicians perform an average of 200 times per year across ensembles ranging from jazz combos and brass quintets to country and dance bands and the full concert band.

Admission is free and the concert is recommended for all ages. Tickets become available October 1 at MossCenter.org, at the Moss Center Box Office in person, or by calling (786) 573-5300. The Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center is located at 10950 SW 211th Street, Cutler Bay.

For more upcoming events across South Florida, visit the Premier Guide Miami Events Calendar .