Who is John Philip Sousa?
John Philip Sousa, nicknamed “The March King” for his proficiency as a composer of that genre, was born in Washington, D.C. in 1854. Besides being known for his energetic marches, he was also a conductor and band leader. Sousa began studies on the violin and in music theory and composition at age six. At 13, he was enlisted by his father, a trombonist in the Marine Band, as an apprentice in the United States Marine Corps. This move was designed to keep Sousa from joining a circus band, and it worked. Sousa spent the seven years of his apprenticeship learning every wind instrument he could. When it concluded, he joined the pit orchestra of a theater and used the opportunity to learn conducting. He did return to the Marine Band, however, as its conductor in 1880 and continued in that post until 1892. During this time he wrote some of his best known marches including “The Gladiator March,” “Semper Fidelis,” “The Washington Post,” and “The Thunderer.” “Semper Fidelis” is the official march
