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Marine Band Members
Saxophone
Master Sgt. Gregory Ridlington

Saxophonist Master Sergeant Gregory Ridlington of Spokane, Wash., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in April 1999.

Master Sgt. Ridlington began his musical instruction at age 10. After graduating in 1991 from Mead High School in Spokane, he attended the University of North Texas in Denton where he received a bachelor’s degree in music in 1995. His instructors included Jim Riggs and Eric Nestler. In 1999, he earned a master’s degree in music from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with Kenneth Radnofsky and George Garzone.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Master Sgt. Ridlington toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and performed on the Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines.

Master Sgt. Ridlington performs with the Marine Band at the White House, in the Washington, D.C., area, and across the country during the band’s annual concert tour.

Some of his notable performances include John Williams’ Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra from Catch Me If You Can in 2003 as a tour soloist and during the Marine Band’s 205th anniversary concert at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with the composer conducting; An Ellington Tribute on tour in 2003; and the Concerto for Stan Getz with the Marine Chamber Orchestra in 2001. In addition, he has soloed on William Bolcolm’s Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble and a world première performance of Curtis Hughes’ Quartet for Saxophones. Master Sgt. Ridlington has also appeared with a Marine Jazz Combo at the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival in Alaska in 2007, 2012 and 2016.