Dr. John Marcellus was appointed Professor and Director of the Eastman Trombone Choir in 1978 after a worldwide search for an heir to carry on the legacy of Eastman’s legendary Professor of Trombone, Emory Remington(1922-1972), the “Chief.”  “Doc” Marcellus is internationally known as a soloist for his performances and recordings as Principal Trombone of the National Symphony Orchestra (John F. Kennedy Center-Washington DC) and soloist with the United States Navy Band.  He is a respected brass pedagogue and international recording artist who has accomplished a stunning record of former students successfully winning major symphony orchestra auditions and appointments to some of the most prestigious music faculties in the world.

“Doc’s” protégés and former students can be found playing in the likes of the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville (Fl) Symphony, Florida Symphony Orchestra, Miami Philharmonic, Florida Philharmonic, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Tulsa Philharmonic, Welsh National Radio Orchestra, La Scala (Italy) Opera Orchestra, Helsingborg(Sweden) Symphony, Stockholm(Sweden) Philharmonic, Bournemouth(England) Symphony, Birmingham(England) Symphony Orchestra, Dortmund (Germany) Opera Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, the military bands of West Point, U.S. Marine Band, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Navy Band, U.S. Air Force Band, U.S. Army Band, U.S. Army Field Band and the professional ensembles of the River City Brass Band, Burning River Brass, Washington Symphonic Brass, Brass Band of Battle Creek, Woody Herman Band, Buddy Rich Band, and the Glen Miller Orchestra.

Former students appointed to music faculties include: Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, UCLA, University of Northern Colorado in Greely, University of Central Washington, Interlochen Arts Academy, University of Northern Arizona, Penn State University, University of West Texas, Texas A&M, Western Carolina University, Boston University, Texas Tech, University of Kansas, Wheaton College, and the University of Southern Arkansas.

Dr. Marcellus is currently a member of the Eastman Brass, Principal Trombone of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Brighton (NY) Symphony Orchestra and a performing artist for Courtois Trombones of the Buffet Crampon Company.  He formerly was a member of the Jacksonville (FL) Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Orchestra, Washington Opera Society Orchestra, American Ballet Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, National Symphony Brass Quintet, Washington Theatre Chamber Players, and Contemporary Music Forum of Washington.

He has appeared in solo recitals and master classes in London, Paris, Cologne, Stuttgart, Birmingham, and Manchester; in Japan, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Holland, Poland, Denmark, Thailand, Brazil and Budapest, Hungary. He has been soloist with many community and university bands and orchestras throughout the United States and Canada. Solo appearances include the International Trombone Workshop (1970-), International Brass Colloquium in Chatenay-Malabry (France), International Brass Congress (Switzerland, 1974,1976), Eastern Trombone Workshop (1974-), Eastern Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, National Symphony and Norfolk Chamber Orchestras. Premieres and commissions of contemporary music include over 50 works.

Marcellus is Past President and founding member of the International Trombone Association, a founding member and Co-Director of the Eastern Trombone Workshop and former Chair of the Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Department of Eastman.

BS, University of Maryland; MM, DMA, Catholic University. Studied trombone with William Cramer, Lewis Van Haney, Edward Herman, Gordon Pulis, Henry Romersa and Armand Sarro; conducting with Richard Lert and Lloyd Geisler. Member, Eastman Brass (1978-)Guest conductor, National Music Camp, Interlochen (1982), Penfield Symphony, US Naval Academy Band, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra (1995, 2005). Publications in NACWPI Journal, The Instrumentalist, and Accent; arrangements published by Kendor and Belwin-Mills. 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), in progress, Blue Wolf: American Music for Trombone, Vol. II. Other CDs: Calls and Echoes with Eastman Brass, Eastman CD Series; Eastman Trombone Choir 60th Anniversary CD, Eastman CD Series. Honors: International Trombone Association’s Highest Award for Pedagogy, Performance and Literature (1999), New York Brass Conference Dedication for Achievement in Brass Performance (1997), Mu Phi Epsilon Musician of the Year (1997), Lifetime Achievement Award, Eastern Trombone Workshop (2009), Vice President Emeritus, New York Conference of Musicians(2010)

Faculty member, North Carolina School for the Arts (1965-68), Catholic University (1966-78), Howard University (1967-70), American University (1968-78), Chautauqua School of Music (1979-), Interlochen Arts Academy (1982-83), Eastman (1978-).