The Washington Post March: Concert Band Conductor Score

Michael Story's arrangement opens this iconic march to younger ensembles without sacrificing the rhythmic precision and melodic swagger that make it unforgettable. The Grade 2 scoring allows students to experience the full architecture of a Sousa march—clean sectional form, driving countermelodies, and that irresistible forward momentum—while building confidence in concert performance. Programming this title signals to your audience that your band has command of American musical heritage.

The march announces itself with bright confidence and propels forward with unstoppable momentum. Melodies sing above a sturdy rhythmic foundation, creating the sense of a formal procession or grand celebration that never quite loses its snap and humor.

Concert bands at the middle school or early high school level will find this a rewarding standard. It suits ensembles building toward more demanding literature or preparing for festival and contest performance with material that demonstrates musicianship and polish.

• Keep the dotted-eighth rhythms crisp and articulate; they define the march's character and drive the ensemble forward.
• Balance the melodic sections with accompanying figures so every voice contributes to the overall pulse without drowning out the tune.
• Maintain steady tempo through key changes and section transitions; any hesitation disrupts the march's narrative momentum.
• Shape the trio with slightly lighter articulation to create contrast while preserving the march's essential energy.

This works as an opener that establishes energy and precision for the concert, or as a closer that sends the audience out with the satisfaction of a perfectly executed American classic. Pair it with contrasting lyrical work to showcase your band's range, or program it alongside other Sousa titles to build a thematic set.

• Executing dotted-rhythm figures with precision and consistency
• Maintaining forward momentum through sectional and key changes
• Balancing melody and accompaniment across the ensemble
• Reading and performing march form (introduction, strain, trio, repeats)
• Coordinating articulation and style across multiple voice parts