Euphonium Player Gunnery Sergeant Hiram Diaz of Miami joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in January 2012 and was appointed assistant principal in December 2023.
Gunnery Sgt. Diaz began his musical instruction at age 12. After graduating in 2003 from the New World School of the Arts in Miami, he attended the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance in 2007. His instructors have included Timothy Northcut of CCM; Jay Bertolet, former principal tuba with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra; and Brian Bowman of the University of North Texas.
Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Gunnery Sgt. Diaz was a member of the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence Band (283d Army Band) in Ft. Benning, Ga.
Gunnery Sgt. Diaz 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. He performed Tom Davoren’s Ascension as featured soloists on the 2016 national concert tour. Since 2017, Gunnery Sgt. Diaz has also served as co-leader of the band’s Latin Jazz Ensemble.