Chief Recording Engineer Gunnery Sgt. Michael Ducassoux of Norwood, Pa., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in February 2016.

Gunnery Sgt. Ducassoux began his musical training on percussion at age eight. After graduating in 2001 from Interboro High School in Prospect Park, Pa., he attended Temple University in Philadelphia, from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and jazz studies in 2007. While at Temple, he studied classical percussion with Glenn Steele, jazz percussion with Erik Johnson, and jazz studies with Terell Stafford. In 2014, he earned a master’s degree in music technology-production track from the University of Valley Forge in Phoenixville, Pa.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Gunnery Sgt. Ducassoux started a production company in 2011 where he recorded and composed for academic ensembles, composed music for film, and designed sound systems. He is also an active percussionist and has performed throughout the East coast in various styles and settings. Gunnery Sgt. Ducassoux has been a guest clinician and commissioned composer at the middle and high school level for jazz and percussion ensembles, music technology workshops, and recording/live sound workshops. Most recently, he taught band, orchestra, jazz and general music for nine years at Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School in Berwyn, Pa., in addition to teaching high school marching bands, indoor drum lines, and maintaining a private teaching studio.

As Chief Recording Engineer, Gunnery Sgt. Ducassoux oversees the recording and sound reinforcement of Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra performances, as well as preservation of the band’s recorded archive collections.