Composer and producer Marcus Norris was called a “New Musical Talent in our Midst” by Chicago’s N’digo Magazine in response to his “When Composer’s Lose Composure” concert in 2014. He studied Music Recording Technology at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan and subsequently earned his Bachelors of Music in Composition at Columbia College Chicago. He earned Masters of Music in Composition degree at Florida International University and has participated in masterclasses with Augusta Reed Thomas and Italian Composer Ferdinando Lazzaro. He expects to earn his PHD in music at UCLA where he was awarded a prestigious Cota-Robles fellowship.

Marcus won 1st prize in the 2017 Southeastern Composers League Philip Slates Memorial Competition. He has premiered works in the United States and in Cuba, as part of the 30th annual Festival de La Habana de Música Contemporánea. His compositions have been either performed or read by the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Community Strings, the Chicago Composer’s Orchestra, Hopera & The Hip Hop Orchestra, Ache-lo, and Chris Wild of Dal Niente. In 2016 he collaborated on a composition with aquatic ecologist Evelyn Gaiser that was performed at TEDxFIU. In this piece, Geiser charted the water levels of a Florida lake to pitches, and Marcus arranged those pitches into a piece for string trio.

Marcus has produced music for Grammy Award winning Rhymefest, Tink, Jean Deaux, and many more. Billboard named the “Winter’s Diary 2” project he produced on as one of the top 10 R&B Albums of 2014. He also worked as a studio instructor, engineer, and producer at Kanye West’s and Rhymefest’s nonprofit musical development program Donda’s House. The Donda’s House program provides a safe place and learning opportunities for underserved communities of black and brown youth on Chicago’s south side.

For more information on Marcus and his music visit www.MarcusNorris.com