The U.S. Military Academy Concert Band and Hellcats will hold its annual tribute to John Philip Sousa, consummate American composer and master of showmanship, at the John Philip Sousa Concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Eisenhower Hall Theatre. This evening of marches, overture and virtuoso soloists is free and open to the public. Lt. Gen. Daniel W. Christman, superintendent, will conduct Philip Egner’s "Official West Point March."

Sousa’s concert programs captured the spirit of the American audience at the beginning of the 20th century. An October 1, 1927, review from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer read, "A concert by Sousa’s band is more than a mere concert --it is a dramatic performance, a stirring lesson in patriotism and a popular musical event, all on the same program." Sousa often would program only nine selections on his concerts, but would commence with an encore, usually one of his own marches, shortly after the completion of each number. Sousa was interested foremost in pleasing his audience. As he indicated in a Washington Star interview on January 20, 1900, "The inspiration that comes from the audience is the greatest compliment that a musician can have. It is his reward and deserves a turn... If I can please my audiences with more, I am willing to please them. It is the work that I was put in the world to do."