Percussionist Staff Sergeant Michael Hopkins of Raleigh, N.C., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in July 2018.

Staff Sgt. Hopkins began his musical training on piano at age 8 and percussion at age 11. After graduating in 2012 from William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh, he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where he earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and bachelor of music degree in percussion performance in 2017. He has also pursued master’s-level study at the Cleveland Institute of Music in Ohio. His notable teachers include She-e Wu of Northwestern; Chris Lamb, New York Philharmonic principal percussion; and Marc Damoulakis, Cleveland Orchestra principal percussion.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” he performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Canton Symphony Orchestra in Ohio, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Staff Sgt. Hopkins 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.