The stirring sounds of America’s military musical heritage will fill the air as the West Point Band performs its acclaimed “West Point on the March” concert at the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. This free event presents a wide-ranging evening of classic marches and patriotic tunes, showcasing the talents of the U.S. Army’s oldest active band.

To RSVP, click here

“This concert is a journey through the heart of American music,” said Master Sgt. Matthew B. Smith, a horn player and spokesperson for the West Point Band. “Concertgoers can look forward to the power of Sousa’s marches, which still resonate today, and some unexpected gems like the Raider’s March from Indiana Jones that reflect our nation’s history and spirit. It’s a chance to feel the energy of a live military band and connect with a tradition that’s been alive for over two centuries.”

The stop at RPI is among nine on the West Point Band’s 2025 Winter Concert Series tour and celebrates the timeless genre of the American march while highlighting the ensemble’s role as musical ambassadors for the United States Military Academy. Featuring the West Point Band’s Concert Band and West Point Brass Quintet, the show will include some of John Philip Sousa’s best-known works such as “The Thunderer” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” (exact pieces may vary) alongside lively selections like Henry Fillmore’s “Americans We” and Ethel Smyth’s “March of the Women.”

The West Point Brass Quintet will showcase the powerful music of a New Orleans funeral, followed by stirring pieces including Bob Dylan’s “When the Ship Comes In” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” The concert wraps up with the unforgettable movie marches from “Indiana Jones” and “The Music Man.”

Audiences can expect a blend of tradition and popular culture, all delivered by world-class musicians in a state-of-the-art venue known for its acoustic excellence.

The West Point Band’s history stretches back to the American Revolutionary War, when fifers and drummers were stationed with minutemen on Constitution Island, across the Hudson River from West Point. In 1778, Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons and his brigade crossed the river to establish West Point as a permanent military post, and the band’s lineage began to take shape. Officially founded in 1817, it is the Army’s oldest band and the oldest continuously operating unit at the United States Military Academy.

Over the years, the West Point Band has evolved from a small group of field musicians into a versatile ensemble, notably performing at the funerals of presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Richard Nixon as well as the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter.

Today, the band comprises multiple components, including the Concert Band, Benny Havens Band, Field Music group the Hellcats, Marching Band, and Brass Quintet, and it undertakes more than 2,600 missions annually to inspire the Corps of Cadets and audiences nationwide.

The music selected for this concert reflects many periods throughout the band’s more than two centuries of performances.

“We’re not just playing notes; we’re telling stories of the nation, the Army, and West Point,” Master Sgt. Smith said.
This concert is free and open to the public. To RSVP, click here.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Military Ties

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has a longstanding relationship with the military, particularly through its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs, which have been a significant part of its history since the early 20th century. The Naval ROTC (NROTC) unit at RPI was established in September 1941, just before the U.S. entered World War II, making it the first NROTC unit in New York State and one of the original 28 nationwide. The Army and Air Force ROTC programs followed, with the Air Force unit, Detachment 550, commissioning its first class in 1949 and producing more than 1,300 officers since. RPI’s ROTC offerings—spanning Army, Navy/Marine Corps, and Air Force/Space Force—have evolved into elective programs that prepare students for commissions as officers. Beyond ROTC, RPI’s military ties are bolstered by its reputation as a top-tier technical institute, producing graduates like flag officers and astronauts, and fostering partnerships with entities like the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. This synergy underscores RPI’s dual commitment to academic excellence and military service, a legacy rooted in its founding ethos of applying science for societal benefit.

For more information, visit empac.rpi.edu or westpointband.com.