Taking his interest in conducting and using his natural understanding of composition, he furthered his talents working as an arranger for two music publishers in Philadelphia, J. M. Stoddart and Co., and W. F. Shaw Publishing Co. In addition to private teaching, he directed an amateur opera company. These experiences in Philadelphia helped him develop a reputation and his name started to became better known. With his new resume, he returned to Washington D.C. with his wife, Jane Van Middlesworth Bellis in 1880. Upon his return, Sousa became the director of the United States Marine Band. Corps officials were extremely impressed with his work in Philadelphia. The Sousas would have three children: John Philip, Jr., Jane Priscilla, and Helen. In the 12 years of his tenure, he reorganized the band by altering its instrumentation, raising its prestige, and building up its
Taking his interest in conducting and using his natural understanding of composition, he furthered his talents working as an arranger for two music publishers in Philadelphia, J. M. Stoddart and Co., and W. F. Shaw Publishing Co. In addition to private teaching, he directed an amateur opera company. These experiences in Philadelphia helped him develop a reputation and his name started to became better known. With his new resume, he returned to Washington D.C. with his wife, Jane Van Middlesworth Bellis in 1880. Upon his return, Sousa became the director of the United States Marine Band. Corps officials were extremely impressed with his work in Philadelphia. The Sousas would have three children: John Philip, Jr., Jane Priscilla, and Helen. In the 12 years of his tenure, he reorganized the band by altering its instrumentation, raising its prestige, and building up its