Students at St. Veronica School in Chantilly were treated to a performance by the U.S. Navy Band Brass Quartet last Thursday.

Throughout the hour-long performance, the quartet played songs from a range of musical styles, including patriotic classics like “The Star Spangled Banner,” “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” and “Anchors Aweigh.” They also gave a sampling of religious hymns, spirituals and jazz numbers.

For the upbeat songs, younger students swayed in their seats, clapping and stomping their feet. They were most excited at the concert’s conclusion, when the quartet played two songs from popular movie soundtracks — the first, an upbeat march from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and the second, the instantly recognizable “Star Wars” theme, by composer John Williams.

During the concert, tuba player and Musician 1st Class Anthony Halloin spoke to the students about how important it is to support the Navy, which works to have a presence in every part of the world. He also talked about the different emotions music can portray through its rhythms and melodies.

School band teacher Laura Scheidt arranged for the quartet’s performance as a way to get students interested in joining the band — particularly the brass section. She said the concert was an opportunity for them to hear what professional musicians sound like, and what they can sound like one day if they practice.

Principal Mary Baldwin agreed, and introduced the quartet to students as “an excellent example of what you can do if you practice and study hard and want to be a musician.”

In preparation for Monday’s Memorial Day holiday, she asked students to give the musicians applause for their service to the country.

Trumpet player and Chief Musician John Schroeder said the quartet performs concerts for schools about once a month. He hopes students walk away from the performances with more knowledge about music, as well as the work the Navy does for the country here and abroad.