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John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa was born on November 16, 1854, in Washington DC. He was a famous composer and skilled bandmaster. Sousa was musician in the Marine Band. His parents could not afford to send him to Europe to study music, but later Sousa said "I feel I am better off as it is...for I may therefore consider myself a truly American composer." He was taught a variety of music by John Esputa, his music teacher. He enrolled in a private music class with Enpusta as the teacher. He studied piano and a large variety of music but he loved the violin the most. Sousa was very talented with the violin and at 13 was almost persuaded into joining a circus band. Instead, his father enlisted Sousa as an apprentice musician in the Marine Band. Except for a period of six months, Sousa remained in the band until he was