Trombonist Master Gunnery Sergeant Samuel Barlow of Jackson, Tenn., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in June 2004. He was named principal trombone in 2013 and assistant section leader in 2017.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Barlow began his musical training at age 12. Upon graduating in 1995 from Northside High School in Jackson, he attended Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., where in 2000 he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. In 2003, he earned a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory in Ohio. His trombone instructors included Susan K. Smith from Austin Peay State University and Cincinnati Symphony principal trombone Cristian Ganicenko.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” he performed with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra in Ohio.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Barlow performs with the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, in the Washington, D.C., area, and across the country during the band’s annual concert tour. In 2010 he was featured as a tour soloist on Stephen Bulla’s arrangement Southwest Showcase and on the 2014 tour he performed Arthur Pryor’s Fantastic Polka.