Horn Player Staff Sergeant Joseph Cradler of Fairfax, Va., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in August 2018.

Staff Sgt. Cradler began his musical training on violin at age 5 and horn at age 11. After graduating in 2013 from W. T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, he attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Ohio from 2013-15 and the New England Conservatory in Boston from 2016-18. He has studied with Sylvia Alimena of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Freimuth, principal horn of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and James Sommerville, principal horn of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Staff Sgt. Cradler performed with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.

Staff Sgt. Cradler 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.

Staff Sgt. Cradler is also the son of Master Gunnery Sgt. John Cradler, former Marine Band principal tuba player.