 |
|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
As An Educator
Marcus Grant currently teaches private lessons to the trumpet and horn studios at Longwood University. He began his teaching career with the Thomas Dale High School Marching Knights, where he assisted with band camp from 2010-2014. In 2015, Marcus began teaching at the Cosby High School Titan Band’s marching band camp. In 8 out of the last 9 years, marching bands that he has worked with have received straight superior ratings at VBODA State Marching Assessment. Prior to his position at Longwood, He taught brass lessons, music theory, and aural skills at Virginia Union University from 2016-2019. In addition, Marcus has run sectionals, taught clinics, led masterclasses, and conducted rehearsals at schools of all levels, including Cele Middle School in Texas, the Fredericksburg Brass Institute, Hanover High School in Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Mr. Grant received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2014. He student taught at Glen Allen High School with Mr. Allen Hall and at Battlefield Park Elementary School with Ms. Susan Winckler. Mr. Grant also received practicum experience at Laurel Meadow Elementary School with Mrs. Tiffany Talley, Liberty Middle School with Mr. Greg Etheridge, and Hanover High School with Ms. Amy Birdsong.
As a private lessons instructor, Marcus Grant has individually taught over 80 brass students of all ages and experience levels throughout Chesterfield County, Powhatan County, and Henrico County since 2012. His students have enjoyed many successes, including holding positions in the All-Virginia Symphonic and Concert Bands, the All-District Symphonic and Concert Bands of districts I and III, the Virginia Tech Honor Band, the Central Virginia Wind Symphony, and the Greater Richmond Youth Wind Ensemble, as well as various DCI-competitive marching ensembles.
Click here to see samples of Mr. Grant conducting at VBODA Concert Assessment in 2014.
As A Composer/Arranger
An award-winning composer, Marcus has a passion for writing music that connects with both the audience and the performer. He has written over 200 different compositions and arrangements, the most recent of which have been consistently published and performed for groups of all sizes, genres, and instrumentation. Most notable are his handful of trumpet ensemble pieces, which have made multiple appearances at the National Trumpet Competition, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the Grand Valley State University International Trumpet Seminar, and the Fredericksburg Brass Institute. In addition these compositions and arrangements have appeared in various masterclasses and concerts around the world, along with being featured in multiple performances by the United States Army Band Trumpet Ensemble. Marcus Grant led the trumpet ensemble consortium involving the Hummel Trumpet Concerto, joined by 8 colleges and professional organizations across the country.
Marcus Grant is the official Composer/Arranger In Residence with The Brass Roots and contributing composer with Concentus Trumpet Ensemble. In addition, he serves as an arranger for the Virginia Commonwealth University Pep Band (also known as "The VCU Peppas"). Marcus is also the Founder of the national composers and performers union known as Enlightened Productions. In addition, Marcus served as composer and arranger for the Thomas Dale High School Marching Knights (2013-2014) and the Cosby High School Titan Marching Band (2015-present). Each year, these marching bands that Marcus has written for have received straight superior ratings at VBODA State Marching Assessment. Marcus’ compositions and arrangements have been featured in concerts, workshops, and competitions in the United States, Spain, Germany, France, and Portugal. Marcus’ original composition “Fantasie of Passage” for solo trumpet and piano was written to help raise money for the Fredericksburg Brass Institute, and proceeds from its sales are donated to help fund the institute.
As a Performer
Marcus Grant began playing the trumpet in 2003. Although Marcus progressed through the majority of his middle school and high school career self-taught, he greatly appreciates the brief lessons he had from his very first private teachers, Everett Grey (4 weeks) and Taylor Barnett (2 weeks). During his undergraduate studies, Marcus studied trumpet in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Trumpet Studio, led by Rex Richardson with assistance from adjunct faculty members Kevin Maloney, Mary Bowden, Brian Strawley, Allyson Keyser, Kevin Gebo, and John D’earth. During his graduate studies at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, he studied with Joey Tartell. Marcus graduated from Indiana University with a Master of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance in 2016.
In his early years with the instrument, Marcus was a trumpeter, background vocalist, and contributing composer for the young Reggae and Ska Band “Keep Off The Grass” (2004-2008) and appeared on the band's only album, A Thought Rang Out (2007). He was also selected to perform in the All-County and All-District Bands for 5 consecutive years (2006-2010) as well as the Virginia Tech Honor Band (2010) and the Greater Richmond Youth Wind Ensemble (2008-2010). In 2010, Marcus was the winner of the Greater Richmond Youth Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition and was later accepted to Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Music. While at VCU, Marcus performed with the college’s premier band, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble (2010-2013) and served as the ensemble’s principal trumpet player in 2013. The VCU Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed at the American Bandmasters Association in 2011. Marcus also performed in VCU’s Trumpet Ensembles throughout his undergraduate career (2010-2014), making multiple appearances in the National Trumpet Competition Ensemble Division Semifinals (2012-2014) and the International Trumpet Guild Conference (2013). At the 2nd and 3rd Annual Fredericksburg Brass Institute, Marcus performed in the premiere brass quintets (2014-2015), and in 2015, Marcus was accepted into the National Trumpet Competition Graduate Solo Division Semifinals. In 2016, Marcus performed at Carnegie Hall with Indiana University’s premier band, the IU Wind Ensemble.
Marcus currently performs on a Schilke B1 Bb Trumpet with a Vincent Bach 1½ C mouthpiece. He uses a Denis Wick straight and cup mute, and uses both Yamaha Silent Brass and Shhmute practice mutes. Marcus mostly enjoys performing cornet solo literature and vocal transcriptions but has performed a wide variety of genres by an equally wide variety of composers.
List of Performed Solo Repertoire
“Alleluia” from Exsultate Jubilate: W.A. Mozart
Awakenings (movement I): James M. Stephenson
Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms: Thomas Moore (Arr. Hunsberger)
Call: James M. Stephenson
Centennial Horizon: Kevin McKee
Concert Etude: Alexander Goedicke
Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra: Alexander Arutunian
Concerto for Trumpet in F: Oscar Böhme
Concerto in Eb for Trumpet and Orchestra: J.N. Hummel
Concerto in Eb for Trumpet and Orchestra: F.J. Haydn
Fantasie Brillante: J.B. Arban
Fantasie of Passage: Marcus S. Grant
Grand Russian Fantasia: Jules Levy
Hymn of Brotherhood: Marcus S. Grant
Intrada: Otto Ketting
L’esprit de la Trompette: James M. Stephenson
Legend: Georges Enescu
Lux Et Lapis: Kevin McKee
Passion Dance: Erik Morales
Reflections: James M. Stephenson
Slavonic Fantasy: Carl Höhne
Sonata for Trumpet and Piano (movement I): Kent Kennan
Sonata for Trumpet and Piano (movement I): Flor Peeters
Sonata for Trumpet and Piano: Thorvald Hansen
Variations on a Neapolitan Song (Napoli): Herman Bellstedt
Variations on a Theme from Haydn: James M. Stephenson
Variations on a Theme from Norma: J.B. Arban
Variations on a Theme From Nettleton (Come Thou Fount): Marcus S. Grant
Vocalise (Op. 34 No. 14): Sergei Rachmaninoff
“What A Ride!” from Suite Nostalgique: James M. Stephenson
In The Marching Arts
Marcus Grant is currently involved with his 10th season teaching marching band. He worked with Thomas Dale High School Marching Knights as a trumpet technician (2010), brass instructor (2011-2014), leadership advisor, (2012-2014), marching and visual instructor (2010-2014), and composer/arranger (2013-2014). In 2015, Marcus began serving as a visual instructor and composer/arranger for the Cosby High School Titan Marching Band. Shortly after - in 2018 - he also joined Clover Hill High School staff as composer/arranger and music instructor. In 8 out of the last 9 years, marching bands that Marcus has worked with have received straight superior ratings at VBODA State Marching Assessment. For 6 consecutive years, marching bands performing his compositions and arrangements have received straight superior ratings at VBODA State Marching Assessment. During the 2013 season, Marcus Grant taught on the brass staff as an instructor for the Shenandoah Sound Drum and Bugle Corps in northern Virginia.
Also known as “FreakoftheArts73” on YouTube, Marcus Grant is one of the original pioneers of the DCI fan-based transcriptions on YouTube and has transcribed show segments from Carolina Crown, The Cadets, the Bluecoats, and others. Marcus also assists as a marching band composer and arranger with Dr. Joshua Gall and Mr. Drew Farmer. During the 2011 season, Marcus was a crew member for Mr. Gall’s RealMUSIC Productions - a professional and family-owned recording and production company that existed for 12 years - which was responsible for the production of over 4,000 audio and video recordings that included VBODA State Marching Assessments, USSBA National Championships, WGI Regionals, and many other events throughout each year. Marcus is the Founder and Supervisor of the national composers and performers union known as Enlightened Productions, a group whose members have served as instructors, charter members, and co-founders of various drum corps, indoor marching ensembles, and chamber groups across the country.
