It's become a Carroll Concert Band tradition.
During the conclusion of its annual spring concert, the band plays "Stars and Stripes Forever" as a nod to John Philip Sousa, the composer of the anthem and the inspiration for the band's performances.
This year's concert will have even more of a patriotic feel thanks to a local composer who wrote his own march.
When the Carroll Concert Band performs its Sousa-style show at 3 p.m. Sunday at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, it will perform Josh Vyskocil's "American Glory" march for the first time.
Vyskocil originally wrote the march after graduating from Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown, Pa., nearly six years ago. He tweaked the composition while attending McDaniel College, where he graduated as a music theory and composition major in 2010.
He crafted the melody to be sprightly and energetic with each section of the band having fun parts to play throughout, he said.
"It's something that people can just get into the patriotic spirit with," Vyskocil said.
The McDaniel College Band performed "American Glory" during a spring concert two years ago, director Linda Kirkpatrick said. Vyskocil also got the chance to conduct the McDaniel College chorus as well that same spring.
"That's something you usually don't get to do until you are out and have a job," Kirkpatrick said. "We do it here."
Vyskocil is currently pursuing a graduate degree in music education at McDaniel. He composed the school's alma mater for the concert band to play during this year's graduation festivities.
He's performed with the Carroll Concert Band for several years. He is a percussionist.
The Sousa-style concert will also feature "An American Elegy," conducted by Liberty High School band director Brandi Jason. "An American Elegy" was composed in memory of the 13 students killed at Columbine High School nearly 13 years ago.
Winters Mill High School band director Kristen Gottleib is conducting "Marche Hongroise" cantata by Hector Berlioz.
Kirkpatrick is leading "Gandalf," the first movement from "Lord of the Rings," which was inspired by the novels written by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The evening finishes with "Stars and Stripes Forever." Director Glenn Patterson said it's a must for a Sousa-style concert.
"You can't do Sousa style and not end it with that," Patterson said. "That's the voted on and approved American march."
