As I write this I am preparing to walk across the mall at lunchtime to enjoy the US Air Force Band's Air Force Strings give a free lunchtime concert at the US Air and Space Museum. The Air Force Band is my favorite, because I know some members, but all of the Service bands are a great addition to the Washington scene.
All four of the major services--Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines--have extensive musical staffs headquartered in the DC area. While these groups spend a lot of time touring, and playing for service members around the country and around the world! Still, at least weekly there is a concert by some band or chamber group somewhere in the DC Area.
And this is not the kind of band music you associate with your high school marching band. The Air Force alone (this is the service where Glenn Miller was the leader of the band in WWII) has a symphonic Concert Band, a String Ensemble, the Airmen of Note (descendants of those Glenn Miller group, a Big Jazz Band), The Ceremonial Brass, the Diplomats (a three-piece jazz ensemble), High Flight, a pop and show band, the Singing Sergeants, a choral group, and Silver Wings, a country ensemble.
Whew!
And that is just the Air Force. All of the services have similar sets of musical groups. Sometimes they have great guests, for example the Air Force's distinguished artist series has a series of concerts where the band accompanies some name artists.
DID I MENTION ALL OF THESE CONCERTS ARE FREE?????
To find out more, the best way is to check out the various web sites of the services:
Navy
Army
Air Force
Marine Corps
Keep in mind that although the concerts are free, sometimes you do need to get tickets in advance, and plan ahead.
Closest metro stop varies by concert. The Air and Space Museum is closest to the Smithsonian metro stop on the orange line and is the home of the summer concert series lunchtime concerts given by the various air force band groups.