Armed Forces March Competition

The Armed Forces March Competition was a 1954 inter-service contest among the United States Armed Forces organized by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the U.S. Department of Defense and convened as part of that year's observances in commemoration of the birth of John Philip Sousa.

Four original marches were selected to receive ASCAP-John Philip Sousa Awards during a February ceremony at The Pentagon.

[1] The Armed Forces March Competition was conceived of by the U.S. Department of Defense and ASCAP to commemorate the 1954 centenary of his birth.

[4][5] Among the judges were Albertus L. Meyers and Frank Simon, at the time the only two still-living cornet soloists to have been commanded by Sousa.

[6] Winners were recognized in a February 1954 ceremony at The Pentagon presided over by Admiral Arthur Radford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.