Clarinetist Gunnery Sergeant Andrew Dees of Richardson, Texas, joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in October 2010. He was appointed to primary bass clarinet in March 2017.

Gunnery Sgt. Dees began his musical training on clarinet at age 11. After graduating from Lloyd V. Berkner High School in Richardson in 2001, he attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance in 2005. In 2006, he earned a master’s degree in music performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. His instructors included Paul Garner of SMU and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Forest Aten of the Dallas Opera Orchestra, Steve Cohen of Northwestern University, and J. Lawrie Bloom of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” he was a freelance musician and taught privately in Richardson.

Gunnery Sgt. Dees 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.