Hear World-Class Music for Free from the Army’s Pershing’s Own

The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” at Fort Myer offers dozens of free public concerts year-round — from jazz at Blues Alley and chamber music at Brucker Hall to outdoor summer concerts on the Capitol steps and Twilight Tattoo appearances.

The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” was established on January 25, 1922 by General of the Armies John J. Pershing — the only officer ever to hold that five-star rank during his own lifetime — and has since grown into the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army, comprising seven distinct performing ensembles: The U.S. Army Concert Band, the Ceremonial Band, the Chorus, the Blues jazz ensemble, Army Band Downrange, the Herald Trumpets, and the Strings. Each brings a different musical tradition to the public calendar, and the cumulative number of free performances offered throughout the year is genuinely remarkable for anyone willing to seek them out.

Pershing’s Own performs free public concerts throughout the year, including summer performances on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol and in area parks; during the cooler months, concerts and recitals take place at Brucker Hall in Arlington— the band’s Fort Myer headquarters — and at venues across the region. The U.S. Army Blues jazz ensemble performs at Blues Alley in Georgetown on select dates, with two sets at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and free tickets available from the venue—one of the most unusual and wonderful free concert experiences in the entire area. The band also provides music support for over 2,000 military funerals each year at Arlington National Cemetery, wreath-laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and state events at the White House and Pentagon—work that makes them simultaneously one of Washington’s most visible and most underappreciated musical institutions.

Check the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” event calendar for more information and additional performance dates. All performances are FREE and open to the public.