Horn Player Staff Sergeant Shawn Zheng of Murfreesboro, Tenn., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in August 2023.

Staff Sgt. Zheng began his musical training on horn at age 11. After graduating in 2018 from Central Magnet School, he attended Rice University where he studied under William VerMeulen and earned a bachelor’s in horn performance in 2022.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Staff Sgt. Zheng was a substitute with the Houston Symphony and guest performed with the Houston Ballet Orchestra. He was also the winner of the 2017 Marine Band Concerto Competition for High School Musicians.

Staff Sgt. Zheng performs with the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and across the country during the band’s annual concert tour.