Yaphet Jones retired from the United States Marine Corps in May of 2011 after 22 years of active service, attaining the highest enlisted rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant. Mr. Jones was born in raised in Chicago, IL. During high school Mr. Jones was an alternate member of the McDonald’s All-American High School Band, attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts National Music Camp in Interlochen MI and participated in the MERIT music program in Chicago.

Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps, he was a music performance major at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL and served as the Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphonic Wind Ensemble. His final assignment in the Marine Corps was as the Bandmaster of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band in San Diego, CA. During his career as a United States Marine musician, he has performed on numerous occasions as a trumpet instrumentalist in various ensembles and as a featured soloist. Mr. Jones has also served three tours in combat with the 1st Marine Division Band in Camp Pendleton, CA. In 2001, he was awarded as the Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Marine Musician of the Year. 

As a professional musician, Mr. Jones has performed with the Pacific Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Chamber Brass, the Westwind Brass, the La Jolla Symphony, Portland Columbia Symphony, Palomar Symphony, the National Orchestra of Honduras, Portland Columbia Symphony, Oregon Symphonic Band, Portlandia Brass, Southwest Washington Wind Symphony, the Big Horn Brass and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic. In 2008, he performed and recorded the CD “American Rhapsody” as a member of the Brass of the Potomac with members of The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band and other members of the premier military bands in Washington DC. 

Mr. Jones has studied privately with current and former members of the Boston Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, National Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pacific and San Diego Symphonies. Mr. Jones has been mentoring and instructing musicians of all ages for the past 30 years. Mr. Jones was the former Trumpet Instructor at Poway High School in San Diego and is a member of the International Trumpet Guild. Mr. Jones lives in Kalispell, MT with his wife Donivee and their two children, Jaeden and Lillian. Mr. Jones is available as a freelance musician, trumpet instructor and clinician and performs locally with the Glacier Symphony, BrassWerks, the Stillwater Brass, the ATP All-Star big band and other local groups.