A trombone player from San Diego who is based at Camp Pendleton was named a Marine Corps Musician of the Year for 2015.
Staff Sgt. Alexander Jason Panos plays in the 1st Marine Division Band. He will receive the award at a ceremony in Washington in December.
Panos had been a contender for the award in previous years.
“This is my first time actually winning it and it feels really good,” he said. “It’s an honor and a privilege.”
Panos graduated from Christian High School in El Cajon and San Diego State University, where he earned a degree in music performance. After playing for the San Diego Symphony, local groups, brass quintets and various bands, he chose a music career in the Marines.
“I decided I wanted a career in music,” he said. “I met up with a Marine recruiter who was a musician and he opened that door for me, told me the good and the bad and it all worked out for me. I joined two years after college and I’m glad I did it.”
“I like being both a Marine and a musician,” he added. “I get to take the talents that I honed before joining and I get to use them, but first and foremost I’m a United States Marine and there are a lot of good things that come with that.”
Two Marine Corps musicians are recognized annually for superior skills and accomplishments in music.
