Violist Gunnery Sergeant Sarah Hart of St. Louis, joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Chamber Orchestra in January 2009.

Gunnery Sgt. Hart began her musical training at age 6. After graduating in 2002 from Rosati-Kain High School in St. Louis, she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and minors in music and chemistry in 2006 from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., where she studied with Dr. Sam McClure. In 2008, Gunnery Sgt. Hart earned a master’s degree in viola performance with an additional focus in pedagogy from Indiana University in Bloomington, where she studied with Atar Arad, former member of the Cleveland Quartet. Gunnery Sgt. Hart earned a doctorate in 2015 from the University of Maryland in College Park where she studied with Dan Foster, principal viola of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. In addition, she has studied with Dr. Catharine Carroll at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” she performed at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, and as a member of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra in Indiana.

Gunnery Sgt. Hart performs regularly at the White House for State Dinners, receptions, and other White House functions, and throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. She was a featured viola soloist for James Syler’s Love Among the Ruins with the Marine Band in 2019, Sir William Walton’s Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in 2016, and Bohuslav Martinu’s Rhapsody Concerto with the Marine Chamber Orchestra in 2011. Gunnery Sgt. Hart also serves as coordinator for the Marine Band’s Music in the Schools and Music in the High Schools educational programs.