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20th Anniversary John Philip Sousa Birthday Bash

Town Hall
Seattle, WA

20th Anniversary John Philip Sousa Birthday Bash

Special concert this fall at Town Hall downtown!

The Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band, Ballard's only non-marching march band, celebrates its 20th anniversary and John Philip Sousa's 151st birthday with a special concert at Town Hall in downtown Seattle. Come join the band for stirring Sousa marches, thrilling feats of baton twirling, scenes from Sousa's plays and operettas, and lots of birthday cake!

Called into existence in 1985 by a rash young ethnomusicologist named Liz Dreisbach, the band has remained defiantly seated ever since. Its repertory, drawn entirely from the golden age of band music -1890 to 1945- is guaranteed to bring the audience to its feet, if not the musicians. While most of the musicians were once in actual marching bands, as evidenced by the collection of mismatched band jackets they wear, they didn't like it. Besides, if you really want to make an impression, you have to sit still.

The spirited 40-piece brass and wind band performs concerts from April though November every year at festivals and parades around the Northwest. They are a favorite at Ballard's Norwegian Constitution Day parade where they navigate the route on a flatbed truck or school bus playing the Norwegian national anthem, Sousa's Washington Post March, and Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. Regulars at Seattle's Northwest Folklife Festival and at Ballard Locks summer concerts, the band has also performed at the Wallingford Wurst Fest, Duvall Days, the Vashon Strawberry Festival and the Arlington Fly-In, to name but a few.

The Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band also features the world's only sedentary majorette. A (rarely) mild-mannered librarian in her other life, Edith Farrar sits in a chair at the front of the band and stuns the audience with amazing feats of baton-twirling. Occasionally she may literally stun one of the band members if the baton flies out of control and bounces off the head of an unfortunate performer. The possibility of such mayhem only increases the rapt attention of the audience.

Though presented with a smile, and a good deal of silliness, the band's mission mirrors that of its hero, John Philip Sousa. Sousa wrote "to reach every heart by simple stirring music... this was my mission. I wanted to make music for the people, a music to be grasped at once".

The infectious enthusiasm and good will of this community band grasps every audience and never fails to put a smile on its listeners' faces.

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Non-Smoking: No

Wheelchair Accessible: No

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