WASHINGTON — The Commanders Marching band is back for the 2024 season and will hold open auditions next week. Here's what you need to know to jam with the band during Commanders home games, both on the field and in the stands.
The Commanders are looking for alto saxophone, trumpet, mellophone, baritone, trombone, and sousaphone players, along with drummers (snare, bass, tenor, cymbals and drum set) to join the band.
Auditions will be held April 6 and 7 at Prince George's Community College. Each audition day will include a first round of blind music auditions followed by a second round of marching auditions for those who pass round one.
Interested wind and brass musicians can choose to audition on either Saturday, April 6, or Sunday, April 7, and should prepare two audition excerpts in full, plus a solo excerpt of their own choosing not to exceed 60 seconds. Percussionists must audition on Saturday, April 6. Interested musicians should audition for all percussion instrument(s) they would like to be considered for and can find detailed drumline audition information here.
Musicians are allowed to audition on multiple instruments and must perform a separate audition for each instrument for which they wish to be considered, the team said in a press release.
Founded in 1937, Washington’s marching band is the oldest in NFL history. From its inception, the ensemble pioneered halftime entertainment and established itself as a fan-favorite part of gamedays. After taking a two-year hiatus, the renowned band returned for the 2022 NFL season under the direction of Maestro Jeffrey Sean Dokken, who will return this year for his third season leading the ensemble.
Dokken is currently the Artistic Director and Conductor of The Rome Symphony Orchestra in Rome, Georgia, a consultant and collaborator with numerous ensembles, organizations, and studios in the D.C. region, and a frequent lecturer on music and entertainment. An accomplished guest conductor, Dokken has performed in some of the world's greatest venues, including The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Grand Opera House, as well as the White House where he has had the distinct honor of conducting on several occasions. Some of the finest musicians and educators from the military bands, Drum Corps International, various orchestral ensembles, and local school districts comprise Dokken’s staff.
Selected musicians will be paid for rehearsals and performances and will be considered part-time employees of the Washington Commanders. For more information, visit https://www.commanders.com/stadium/2024/audition-info.
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