Meet Marcus

A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Marcus Moore began his clarinet studies at the age of 15 in 2011. Since then, he grew to high acclaim as a performing clarinetist and is now pursuing a master’s degree in Music Composition from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Before continuing his studies in music, Marcus served as a clarinetist with the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band (MARFORPAC Band). As a member of the MARFORPAC Band, Marcus regularly performed in the concert wind ensemble, marching band, and woodwind quintet (Wayfaring Winds). While serving with the MARFORPAC Band, Marcus received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his musical contributions to the Marine Corps Music Program. He was also a recipient of the Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Military Outstanding Musician Award, where musicians from all branches of the U.S. military compete for the title. In the year 2020, Marcus was picked to play and record for the first ever Marine Musician virtual band that consisted of musicians of the President’s Own, Commandant’s Own, and the ten Marine Corps Fleet Bands.

To this day, Marcus still performs as a freelance musician throughout the United States. As an ensemble musician, he performed with the Royal Australian Navy Band, 581st Air Force Band, 25th Infantry Division Band, U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, Georgia Wind Symphony, North Georgia Wind Symphony, Atlanta Freedom Bands, Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra, and Georgia Sinfonietta. As an avid chamber musician, Marcus created and performed with numerous chamber music ensembles from around the world. Marcus has performed with NeoPhonia Ensemble, Terminus Ensemble, Atlanta Wind Project, Atlanta Chamber Collective, Sonare Winds, Complete Defeat, Sad Clown Duo, and Secondary Duo. He is also a member of Chiaro, a chamber ensemble consisting of piano, saxophone, and clarinet. As a member of Chiaro, Marcus was invited to give artist recitals at Troy University and the University of North Georgia and placed second in the MTNA State of Georgia Chamber Music Competition. In 2015, Marcus was selected to be a fellow, on scholarship, of the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival where he studied and performed chamber music with the Grammy winning Imani Winds Woodwind Quintet. During the months of January and February of 2023, the Wayfaring Winds went on tour and performed throughout Guam and the state of Texas. While in Texas, the Wayfaring Winds also performed at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) as the premiere chamber ensemble of the Marine Corps Music Program. As a soloist, Marcus has performed as a featured artist for the Stonewall Music Festival (2015 & 2016), the University of South Carolina Honor Band Festival (2022), and Sound Now! Music Festival (2017, 2018, 2019). He has also had the opportunity to play in masterclasses for musicians of the President’s Own, Charles Neidich, Paquito D. Rivera, Ted Gurch, Cathy Ogram, Roomful of Teeth, Christopher Nichols, and Kimberly Cole Luevano.

Marcus also works deeply in the international music community as an educator, innovator, and creator. His clarinet students consistently participate and have received principal chairs in county, honor, regional, and all-state ensembles. Marcus is the founder and president of the Libertalia Philharmonic. He not only plays flute and clarinet for Libertalia, but also arranges music and sound engineers the audio for the group’s numerous chamber, choral, and large ensembles. Marcus is also a founding member and lead sound engineer of the Neo International Clarinetist Exposé (N.I.C.E.). When he is not composing, performing, or teaching, Marcus is working in the music community to help promote the work of other musicians. As part of his endeavors, he has commissioned and premiered works for Marc Mellits, Dylan Findley, Nathan Bales, Margy Hayes, James Dinsmoor, Royal Teague, Michael Standard, Brandon Smith, Glenn Zekser, T’Anna McIntrye, Emilliano Neito-Montiel, Nick Demos, and Curtis Gay. 

As part of his studies, Marcus received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Georgia State University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.