Not long ago I got a call from Santo, who plays Sousaphone in a local band called Crush Funk. It turns out he also plays in the Redskins marching band, one of only two professional marching bands in the country. He said he had EIGHT sousaphones that needed work…a last minute request.

Sousaphones in the Redskins Marching Band

These horns had taken a beating, like they had been tackled on the field. Some were held together with duct and electrical tape; most had broken and missing braces. Due to the time and budget crunch, cosmetic repairs were secondary. I had to work fast!

A Band of Sousaphones

Sousa Parts and Pieces

I worked day and night for a week to meet the deadline. Eric Summers, the band director, and his son, Eric Jr., picked them up and crammed them into his van. Good to go!

Mad Sousa Repair Tech