Trombonist Master Gunnery Sergeant Chris Clark of Commerce, Texas, joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in August 1999. He was appointed section leader in 2008.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Clark began his musical instruction at age 11 under the tutelage of his father, Jimmy Clark. He graduated in 1991 from Commerce High School, where he studied with the late Dr. Neill H. Humfeld. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in 1995 where he studied with Glenn Dodson, a former member of the Marine Band and principal trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1997, he earned a master’s degree in music from The Juilliard School in New York where he studied with Joseph Alessi, principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic. Master Gunnery Sgt. Clark earned his doctorate in musical arts from the Catholic University of America in May 2009, where he studied with David Fedderly.

Prior to joining the band, Master Gunnery Sgt. Clark was a freelance trombonist in New York.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Clark 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.