The Victors premiered by Sousa's band

Background. Louis Elbel, a University of Michigan student, wrote "The Victors" in 1898 following the football team's 12–11 victory over the University of Chicago. This win clinched the Western Conference championship on Thanksgiving at Chicago's Stagg Field. Elbel copyrighted the song in early 1899, establishing its origins prior to the public performances in Ann Arbor.

Student Performance. The first public performance of "The Victors" occurred on April 5, 1899, during "A Night Off," an on-campus undergraduate musical. Elbel and a student orchestra performed the piece for a smaller student audience. This event preceded the formal premiere by John Philip Sousa's band, which took place three days later in Ann Arbor.

Sousa Concert Performance. Three days after the first public performance, "The Victors" was performed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, during a concert by John Philip Sousa, leader of the United States Marine Band and known as the "March King." Sousa held the song in high regard, remarking that no one but a master of counterpoint could have conceived its splendid harmony. The specific venue for the 1899 concert is not stated in the sources; Hill Auditorium, sometimes cited for this event, opened in 1913 and is anachronistic.