John Marcellus
Encyclopedia
John Marcellus is a trombone
musician and teacher. He is currently Professor of Trombone at The Eastman School of Music
of the University of Rochester
, and past Chair of the Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Department. In addition to his trombone teaching responsibilities at Eastman, Dr. Marcellus is the conductor of the Eastman Trombone Choir, Eastman Bionic Bones (jazz trombone ensemble), and the trombonist with the Eastman Brass. Dr. Marcellus joined the faculty of the prestigious Eastman School
in 1978, and was named the Kilbourn Professor from 1982-83. He succeeded the famous trombonist and teacher, Emory Remington
, who served as Professor of Trombone at Eastman for over 50 years.
and M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from The Catholic University of America
. His trombone teachers have included William F. Cramer (former Professor of Trombone at Florida State University
), Lewis Van Haney (Second Trombonist with the New York Philharmonic
from 1946–63), Edward Herman (Principal Trombonist with the New York Philharmonic
from 1956–85), Gordon Pulis (Principal Trombonist with the New York Philharmonic
from 1946–56), and Armand Sarro (former trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra). His conducting teachers have included Richard Lert
of the American Symphony Orchestra League and Lloy Geisler of the National Symphony and Catholic University of America.
.
Previous to joining the faculty of the Eastman School in 1978, Dr. Marcellus served as the Principal Trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, DC) for 13 years, and also served as the Associate Principal Trombonist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
, soloist with the United States Navy Band
, and served as the Principal Tuba with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
at the age of 16.
Dr. Marcellus was on the faculty of the North Carolina School for the Arts from 1965 to 1968. In Washington, D.C., he served on the faculty of Catholic University
from 1966 to 1978, Howard University
from 1967 to 1970 and American University
from 1968 to 1978. Since 1978, he has served on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music
and taught at Chautauqua
since 1979 and the Interlochen Arts Academy in 1982 and 1983.
He served as guest conductor at the National Music Camp in Interlochen in 1982. Other musical groups that he has played with or conducted include the Penfield Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
in 2005, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
, and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
. He has performed as a soloist with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington D.C., the National Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, Washington Theatre Chamber Players, and the Contemporary Music Forum, as well as performing solo recitals in London, Paris, Cologne, Stuttgart, Birmingham, Manchester, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Holland, Poland, and Denmark.
His close association with the International Trombone Association
(ITA) has included appearances in workshops since 1970 and he is a founding board member of the ITA. Other workshops in which he has performed include the 1976 International Brass Congress in Montreux, Switzerland, the U.S. Army Band's Eastern Trombone Workshop since 1973, the Eastern Music Festival, and Norfolk Chamber Orchestra. He has served as co-director of the Army Band's Eastern Trombone Workshop, which has been held at Ft. Meyer, Virginia annually since 1986.
1Maria Kilbourn Eastman is the mother of George Eastman
, who endowed the Eastman School of Music.
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
musician and teacher. He is currently Professor of Trombone at The Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
of the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, and past Chair of the Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Department. In addition to his trombone teaching responsibilities at Eastman, Dr. Marcellus is the conductor of the Eastman Trombone Choir, Eastman Bionic Bones (jazz trombone ensemble), and the trombonist with the Eastman Brass. Dr. Marcellus joined the faculty of the prestigious Eastman School
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
in 1978, and was named the Kilbourn Professor from 1982-83. He succeeded the famous trombonist and teacher, Emory Remington
Emory Remington
Emory B. Remington was a trombonist and music teacher. His unique method made him one of the most well-known and influential trombone educators in history...
, who served as Professor of Trombone at Eastman for over 50 years.
Education
John Marcellus holds a B.S. degree in Music Education from the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
. His trombone teachers have included William F. Cramer (former Professor of Trombone at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
), Lewis Van Haney (Second Trombonist with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
from 1946–63), Edward Herman (Principal Trombonist with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
from 1956–85), Gordon Pulis (Principal Trombonist with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
from 1946–56), and Armand Sarro (former trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra). His conducting teachers have included Richard Lert
Richard Lert
Richard Lert was an American conductor of Austrian birth. Born in Vienna, he was the younger brother of stage director Ernst Lert. After graduating with a music degree from the University of Vienna, he took a conducting post at the Opernhaus Düsseldorf in 1910...
of the American Symphony Orchestra League and Lloy Geisler of the National Symphony and Catholic University of America.
Professional positions
John Marcellus has served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Brighton Symphony Orchestra since 1980. Since 1979, he has taught at the Chautauqua Institute and served as the Principal Trombonist with the Chautauqua Symphony OrchestraChautauqua Symphony Orchestra
The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra, the resident summer orchestra of the Chautauqua Institution in western New York State. Founded in 1929, the ensemble plays concerts on most Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights throughout the Institution's nine-week season. The CSO...
.
Previous to joining the faculty of the Eastman School in 1978, Dr. Marcellus served as the Principal Trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, DC) for 13 years, and also served as the Associate Principal Trombonist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board...
, soloist with the United States Navy Band
United States Navy Band
The United States Navy Band, based at the historic Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., has served the nation as the official musical organization of the United States Navy since 1925...
, and served as the Principal Tuba with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Jacksonville, Florida. Widely recognized for its high artistic quality, the JSO ranks among the nation’s top 30 to 40 orchestras in terms of number of performances and population served...
at the age of 16.
Dr. Marcellus was on the faculty of the North Carolina School for the Arts from 1965 to 1968. In Washington, D.C., he served on the faculty of Catholic University
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
from 1966 to 1978, Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
from 1967 to 1970 and American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
from 1968 to 1978. Since 1978, he has served on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
and taught at Chautauqua
Chautauqua
Chautauqua was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with...
since 1979 and the Interlochen Arts Academy in 1982 and 1983.
He served as guest conductor at the National Music Camp in Interlochen in 1982. Other musical groups that he has played with or conducted include the Penfield Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra, the resident summer orchestra of the Chautauqua Institution in western New York State. Founded in 1929, the ensemble plays concerts on most Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights throughout the Institution's nine-week season. The CSO...
in 2005, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board...
, and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Jacksonville, Florida. Widely recognized for its high artistic quality, the JSO ranks among the nation’s top 30 to 40 orchestras in terms of number of performances and population served...
. He has performed as a soloist with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington D.C., the National Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, Washington Theatre Chamber Players, and the Contemporary Music Forum, as well as performing solo recitals in London, Paris, Cologne, Stuttgart, Birmingham, Manchester, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Holland, Poland, and Denmark.
His close association with the International Trombone Association
International Trombone Association
The International Trombone Association is a non-profit organisation of trombonists that is dedicated to supporting trombone-related activities. Founded in 1972, it has a membership of 4,500 members from 50 countries....
(ITA) has included appearances in workshops since 1970 and he is a founding board member of the ITA. Other workshops in which he has performed include the 1976 International Brass Congress in Montreux, Switzerland, the U.S. Army Band's Eastern Trombone Workshop since 1973, the Eastern Music Festival, and Norfolk Chamber Orchestra. He has served as co-director of the Army Band's Eastern Trombone Workshop, which has been held at Ft. Meyer, Virginia annually since 1986.
Publications
- Several publications in the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) Journal, The Instrumentalist and Accent
- Arrangements published by Kendor and Belwin-Mills.
Discography
- Recordings on London/Decca, Nonesuch, Library of Congress, Turnabout, Opus One, Stolat, and Sine Qua Non.
- Solo CD, Songs, Dances, and Incantations: American Music for Trombone, on Albany Records (2002).
- Other CDs: Calls and Echoes with Eastman Brass, Eastman CD Series;
- Eastman Trombone Choir 60th Anniversary CD, Eastman CD Series.
Honors
- He received the International Trombone AssociationInternational Trombone AssociationThe International Trombone Association is a non-profit organisation of trombonists that is dedicated to supporting trombone-related activities. Founded in 1972, it has a membership of 4,500 members from 50 countries....
's Highest Award for Pedagogy, Performance and Literature in 1999.
- He was honored for his outstanding career as a musician and educator in April, 1997 by the New York Brass Conference for Scholarships at their Silver Jubilee Brass Conference in New York City.
- In 1997, he was given the Mu Phi EpsilonMu Phi EpsilonMu Phi Epsilon is a co-ed international professional music fraternity and honor society. It boasts over 75,000 members in 128 collegiate chapters and 74 alumni chapters in the US and abroad.-History:...
Musician of the Year award.
External references
1Maria Kilbourn Eastman is the mother of George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
, who endowed the Eastman School of Music.