The Troy High School Jazz Ensemble welcomes a new Artist-in-Residence this fall.  Marcus Elliot, a saxophonist, composer, and educator in the Metro-Detroit area has agreed to share his talent and experience with the student jazz musicians at Troy High School for the 2012-2013 school year.

Elliot, a recent graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Jazz Studies, has led the “Marcus Elliot Quartet” for the past six years, featuring some of Detroit’s finest young musicians.  The quartet has performed in such venues as Cliff Bells, Bakers Keyboard Lounge and the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor.  Elliot has worked with such jazz greats as Marcus Belgrave, Rodney Whitaker, and Kris Johnson, who served as Troy High’s Artist-In-Residence for the last three years before taking his present position as a Lecturer in Jazz Studies at Ohio State University.

Troy High is fortunate to have Elliot as an educator as he has vast experience teaching young musicians.  He has served as saxophone instructor at the Young Musicians Program in Berkley, California, the Michigan State University Summer Jazz Camp, and the MSU Community Music School of Detroit.  His latest position is Director for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Band where he will work with talented student musicians from the greater Detroit area.

“Marcus has already been in-class with our jazz ensemble students and they are responding enthusiastically,” says Brian Nutting, Troy High School’s Band Director.  “They are excited to grow in jazz knowledge and skills.”

The Jazz Ensemble’s first chance to shine will be later this month when they take the stage with the Troy High School Orchestra’s for their annual “Spooktacular” concert on October 26^th at 10:30pm.  The concert is at Troy High School, 4777 Northfield Parkway, Troy, MI 48098.