Our board
Fulfilling the vision of a youth orchestra for Montana
Yaphet Jones
Board MemberYaphet 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. During high school, Mr. Jones was an alternate member of the McDonald’s All-American High School Band and 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, Yaphet 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 and served as a Black Belt Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor. In 2001, he was awarded as the Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Marine Musician of the Year. As a freelance musician, Yaphet has performed with numerous symphonies and ensembles to include the Pacific Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber Brass, the Westwind Brass, the Big Horn Brass, La Jolla Symphony, Portland Columbia Symphony, the National Orchestra of Honduras 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. Yaphet has studied privately with current and former members of the Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, National Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony and the Dallas Symphony.
Yaphet has been mentoring and instructing musicians of all ages for over 30 years. Yaphet was the former Trumpet Instructor at Poway High School in San Diego, CA and is a member of the International Trumpet Guild. Yaphet is the Principal Trumpet of the Glacier Symphony Orchestra is a founding member of the Stillwater Brass. Yaphet serves on the Board of Directors of the Flathead Marines and currently resides in Kalispell, MT with his wife Donivee and their two children Jaeden (14) and Lillian 11. Jaeden and Lilly keep their parents plenty busy with traveling as Jaeden is as a All-Star baseball player and Lillian is a competitive gymnast and is the current and two-time Montana state champion.
When not on the concert stage or traveling with their kids for their respective sports, Yaphet can be found skiing on the slopes in the winter or in the mountains mountain biking during the rest of the year.