Percussionist Master Sergeant Steven Owen of Eugene, Ore., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in December 2003.

Master Sgt. Owen began his musical instruction on percussion at age 12. After graduating in 1990 from Springfield High School in Oregon he attended the University of Oregon in Eugene where he studied with the late Charles Dowd and received a bachelor of music in 1995. He continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in New York where he studied with former Marine Band percussionist John Beck and earned a master’s degree in music and a performer’s certificate in 1997, and a doctoral degree in musical arts in 2000.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” he performed with the Army Field Band in Fort Meade, Md.; the Rochester Philharmonic in N.Y.; and the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and Eugene Symphony, both in Eugene.

Master Sgt. Owen 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.