Violinist Staff Sergeant Ryo Usami of Darien, Conn., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Chamber Orchestra in July 2020.

Staff Sgt. Usami began his musical instruction at age 5. After graduating Darien High School in 2013, he attended the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he studied with Violaine Melancon and earned a bachelor’s degree in music in 2017. In 2019 he earned a master’s of music from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied with Ayano Ninomiya. Other mentors of his include Akiko Silver and Simeon Simeonov.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Staff Sgt. Usami substituted with the San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony and Boston Pops. He has also freelanced with the Santa Barbara and New West Symphonies, as well as Symphony New Hampshire. His festival appearances include The Orchestra of Americas, the Colorado Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and Aurora Chamber Music Festival in Sweden.

With the orchestra, Staff Sgt. Usami performs regularly at White House State Dinners, receptions, and other functions and appears with the Marine Chamber Orchestra in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.