Clarinetist Master Sergeant Christopher Grant of Oakton, Va., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in July 2006.

Master Sgt. Grant began his musical training on the clarinet at age 9. After graduating in 2002 from James Madison High School in Vienna, Va., he earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor in 2006.  His instructors included Kenneth Lee of Vienna, and Fred Ormand and Deborah Chodacki of U-M.

Master Sgt. Grant performs with the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and across the country during the band’s annual concert tour. Several notable performances include Johannes Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet in 2016, Aaron Copland’s Concerto for Clarinet in 2015, Frank Ticheli’s Concerto for Clarinet in 2012, Luigi Bassi’s Fantasy on Rigoletto in 2010, and Donato Lovreglio’s Fantasy on Traviata in 2008. He performed Vincenzo Bellini’s Gran Duetto Concertato “La Sonnambula” at the 2012 International ClarinetFest in Lincoln, Neb. In 2018, he was also a featured soloist on the Marine Band’s 2018 tour.