The idea for a “national concert band” began in 1973 through conversations among retired and former members of the premier military service bands in the Washington, D.C. area. Their vision was twofold: to create an ensemble that would allow area military musicians to continue performing after retirement, and to preserve the rich concert band tradition of the United States that was so prominent in the first half of the twentieth century.

In 1974, approximately 35 musicians came together to form the National Concert Band of America (NCBA). The group’s first conductor was Edmond DeMattia, former principal oboist of the United States Navy Band. In its early years, NCBA performed twice at the Canadian National Exhibition and participated in making the epic series of historic recordings “Heritage of the March,” produced by Robert Hoe of Poughkeepsie, New York. In the 1980s, the band was a beloved Independence Day fixture at the historic Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Today, NCBA performs annually for the July 4th holiday at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, where its rousing performances have become a holiday tradition.

NCBA has been shaped by the leadership of outstanding conductors drawn from the nation’s military music community, including John “Fritz” Velke, USAF; Dean “Buck” Wade, USMC; Don Stratton, USN; Marshall Hawkins, USN; Melvin Kessler, USN; William R. Terry, USN; and Adrian Holton, USAF. In 2024, the band welcomed its eighth Music Director and Principal Conductor, Wolson Gustama.

Today, NCBA is a premier all-volunteer symphonic band committed to artistic excellence and community engagement. The ensemble continues to attract top-tier musicians from across the region, including veterans of professional military ensembles. NCBA performs several free concerts each year, offering audiences powerful musical experiences that honor the past while embracing new compositional voices and repertoire. Through its dedication to service, tradition, and innovation, the National Concert Band of America remains a vibrant cultural force in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond.