John Marcellus, professor of trombone at the Eastman School of Music, was named winner of the 2011 ITA Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2011 Neill Humfeld Award by the International Trombone Association. The first recognizes distinguished contributions to the trombone profession and the latter recognizes outstanding trombone teaching. The ITA previously recognized Marcellus in 1999 with its ITA Award for the highest level of creative and artistic output in areas such as performance, composition, arranging, teaching, conducting, research and/or service.
As a concert trombonist, Marcellus served as the Principal Trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., for 13 years, as well as the Associate Principal Trombonist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, soloist with the United States Navy Band, and Principal Tuba with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16. As a soloist, he has performed in recitals internationally, including performances in London, Paris, Manchester, Japan, Sweden, Austria, Holland, Poland, Denmark, Stuttgart, Cologne, and Finland.
Marcellus joined the Eastman faculty in 1978 as Professor of Trombone and Director of the Eastman Trombone Choir. After only a few years as a faculty member, Marcellus was given the distinguished title of Kilbourn Professor in 1982 as a member of the Eastman Brass. He continues to be a member of the Eastman Brass Quintet, and is presently Principal Trombone of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and Co-Director with Phil Wilsom of the newly formed ensemble American Trombone Factory.
Marcellus has been soloist and clinician with orchestras, music festivals, college and high school bands, and has led brass workshops and master classes throughout the United States, Switzerland, Germany, England, Finland, Austria, Sweden, Greece, France, Japan, and Poland. He was formerly Adjunct Professor of Music at Catholic University, where he founded the Catholic University Trombone Choir in 1969.
Marcellus also acts as Music Director and Conductor of the Brighton Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 1980.
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