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Marko Marcinko as Director of Music Performance at Misericordia University

Marko Marcinko as Director of Music Performance at Misericordia University

Marko Marcinko as Director of Music Performance at Misericordia University

Misericordia University and the Office of the President recently announced that they have selected Marko Marcinko to become the Director of Music Performance and Artist in Residence to revitalize the once well-known music program.

Music Performance at Misericordia will take a new direction with Marcinko as director as he brings back music to the University.  “I am so glad to see Music Performance at MU become a reality. The great music tradition and history returns with a new and exciting direction,” said Marcinko. 

Marko Marcinko, Director of Music

Music was a long-standing part of Misericordia that President Myers wanted to bring back to the university for current and future students. The Music Performance program at Misericordia offers instrumental and choral ensemble opportunities in varying styles and ensembles. The program is an opportunity to create meaningful musical moments, collaborate with other students, and foster new friendships while attending Misericordia University.

The Misericordia University Concert and Lecture Series presents performances by outstanding world-renowned musicians representing a variety of musical genres and closely coordinates programming with the instrumental and choral ensembles to offer special masterclasses, workshops, and lectures by visiting artists, creating unique opportunities for student musicians to hear, observe, interact and perform with a variety of professional musicians and artist-teachers. All performances are open to the public and take place in the Lemmond Theater or Maslow ensemble room. The program will begin in the Fall of 2023.

“It is an honor and complete thrill to lead Misericordia University into a new exciting chapter for music and music performance,” said Marcinko. He is excited to be at Misericordia and share his passion for music with the campus and the surrounding areas.

Marko Marcinko has worked as a freelance musician playing drum set, percussion, piano/keyboards, bass guitar, vocals, and trombone. He has also served as a studio session player, arranger, musical director, and producer for numerous commercial jingles, indie films, and off-Broadway, club, and theater engagements.

Born in Archbald, Pennsylvania, Marcinko studied technique with drumming master Joe Morello and continued his training at the University of Miami, Florida, where he studied classical, jazz, contemporary, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban styles under professors Fred Wickstrom, Steve Bagby, Steve Rucker, Harry Hawthorne, and Ney Resaro.

Marcinko toured and recorded with jazz legend Maynard Ferguson in the mid-’90s and NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman as a member of the Dave Liebman Group 2000-2014. He currently works with the Grammy-nominated Dave Liebman Big Band and the Organik Vibe Trio, The Hal Galper Trio, The Marko Marcinko Latin Jazz Quintet, The Ruth’s Chris Jazz Trio and the award-winning Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band.

He is an Emmy and Grammy-nominated artist and the founder and artistic director of the PA Jazz Alliance, the Scranton Jazz Festival, and the Montgomery County Jazz Festival. Marko has served as a music consultant, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States, Canada, South America, eastern/western Europe, and Japan.

Over the past 34 years, he has performed with jazz greats: Joe Henderson, Phil Woods, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton, Benny Golson, Bob Dorough, Red Rodney, Arturo Sandivol, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Mulgrew Miller, Delfeayo Marsalis, Wallace Roney, John Pizzarelli, Kurt Elling, Tierney Sutton, Janis Siegel, Terell Stafford, Joe Lovano, The New York Voices, Anthony Jackson, Mike Stern, and Will Lee. Also, with famous musicians and entertainers, including Jon Secada, John Legend, Joan Rivers, Jay Leno, Connie Francis, Joe Piscopo, Don Rickles, Melba Moore, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Four Freshmen, Juan Gabriel, Clay Aiken, Bob Newhart, and Nicol Williamson. Marcinko endorses Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, and Aquarian Drum Heads.

Professor Marcinko is the director of Music Performance at Misericordia University, Dallas, PA, and serves as the director of jazz and contemporary music for the PA Jazz Institute. After serving as adjunct jazz studies professor at Penn State University (1999-2016), he became the director of jazz studies from (2016-2022), where he directed the premiere award-winning jazz ensemble “Centre Dimensions,” created the first Penn State University jazz vocal ensemble, “Vocal Dimensions,” and developed a minor degree in jazz and contemporary music. He has also served as an adjunct professor of jazz at Lehigh University, Marywood University, SUNY Orange College, and The University of Richmond.

High school juniors and seniors considering applying to Misericordia University and are interested in the Music Performance program are encouraged to contact Marcinko at mmarcinko@misericordia.edu for a visit to rehearsals, meet the faculty, attend a concert or masterclass/clinic and tour the campus. For more information about Marcinko, click here.