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Selections span genres, American history.

Three venerable American Legion ensembles competed in the 2026 National Convention Concert Band Contest at Louisville’s Kentucky International Exposition Center. The bands, and their selections, were:

Joliet (Ill.) American Legion Band, sponsored by St. Joseph’s Park Post 1080 and celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Members’ ages range from 17 to 83. They performed:

“A Step Ahead,” a march by Harry Alford
“Sacrifice,” a 2025 composition honoring military personnel by Julie Giroux
“Danzón No. 2” by Arturo Márquez, in honor of the Cuban ballroom dance

JOLIET, ILL. AMERICAN LEGION BAND

AMERICAN LEGION BAND OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City, sponsored by Dwight Cowles Post 370 in Overland Park, Kan. Their “semiquincentennial all-Americana program” included:

“Country Band March” from 1913, by Charles Ives
“The Liberty Bell” by John Philip Sousa
“An Outdoor Overture” by Aaron Copland, child of immigrants/Brooklyn shopkeepers and “dean of American music”

AMERICAN LEGION BAND OF THE TONAWANDAS

American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, sponsored by Post 264 in Tonawanda, N.Y. The internationally traveled band performed:

“Esprit de Corps” by Robert Jager, commissioned in 1984 for the President’s Own Marine band
“Official West Point March” by Philip Egner, which at one point included most of the band’s members singing along
“Danza Symphonica” by James Barnes

The final scores were:

Tonawandas, 95.33

Joliet, 92.83

Kansas City, 88.83