Marques L. A. Garrett

Assistant Professor of Music in Choral Activities
Area of Focus: Conducting, Voice
PhD, Florida State University, 2018
MM, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2010
BA, Hampton University, 2006

A Virginia native, Marques L. A. Garrett (he/him) is an Assistant Professor of Music in Choral Activities at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Glenn Korff School of Music. His responsibilities include conducting the auditioned Chamber Singers and non-auditioned University Chorale (soprano-alto) as well as teaching graduate choral literature. Before earning his PhD in Music Education (Choral Conducting) at Florida State University, he was the Director of Choral Activities at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, he holds an MM from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BA from Hampton University.

An active conductor, Marques is the artistic director of the Omaha Symphonic Chorus and founding conductor of the Nebraska Festival Singers. He serves as a guest conductor or clinician with school, church, community, and festival/honor choirs throughout the country. In addition to his conducting classes at UNL, he leads conducting workshops at other universities and conferences. His formal conducting studies were with Dr. André J. Thomas, Dr. Carole J. Ott, Dr. Carl G. Harris, Jr., and Mr. Royzell Dillard.

A versatile voice that performs both as a baritone and countertenor, Marques has sung with several community, church, and university groups as both a chorister and soloist. He was the baritone soloist for the Germantown Concert Chorus’s performance of Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis. His premiere as a countertenor in Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo served as the work’s European premiere in Limerick, Ireland. Additionally, he performed the role of Lil Lud in Bernstein’s White House Cantata with the Tallahassee Community Chorus. Currently, he sings with First-Plymouth Congregational Church, Festival Singers of Florida, and the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers.

Marques is an avid composer of choral and solo-vocal music whose compositions have been performed to acclaim by high school all-state, collegiate, and professional choirs including Seraphic Fire and the Oakwood University Aeolians. His music is available through more than ten publishers. He has been commissioned by organizations such as Harvard University and Westminster Choir College. Among his latest commissions is his largest work to date, Dreamland: Tulsa 1921. This collaborative work with librettist Sandra Seaton for tenor-bass chorus, soloists, and chamber orchestra was commissioned by the Turtle Creek Chorale to tell the story of the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

As a researcher, his most advantageous topic is the non-idiomatic choral music of Black composers. His lectures at state and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and at other local and national venues afford him the opportunity to showcase this underrepresented area of music. He serves as co-editor of the “Out from the Shadows” Series with Gentry Publications.

Marques holds membership in the American Choral Directors Association; American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; National Association of Negro Musicians; National Collegiate Choral Organization; and Pi Kappa Lambda. For more information, visit www.mlagmusic.com.

Engagements for 2023 include engagements with/for the Wingate University 9-10 All Carolina Select Choir (conductor), Friends University Choral Festival (conductor), NAfME All-Northwest SATB Choir (conductor), Gustavus Adolphus College Honor Choir (conductor), Connecticut MEA All-State SATB Choir (conductor), Choral Arts Ensemble (commission premiere), and New Jersey MEA All-State SATB Choir (conductor).

Digital and Print Literature

“Composing and Arranging for Male Choirs.” In Conducting Men’s Choirs, edited by Donald L. Trott, 237–51. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2019.

“An Introduction to the Non-Idiomatic Choral Music of Black Composers.” The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians 29, no. 9 (November 2020): 1, 4–9.

The Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2023.

“The Short Choral Works of R. Nathaniel Dett.” PhD dissertation, Florida State University, 2018. http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/2018_Sp_Garrett_fsu_0071E_14525.

“Thinking Outside the Box for Black History Month: How Do We Change the Narrative?” Music in a Minuet (blog). National Association for Music Education, January 30, 2020. https://nafme.org/thinking-outside-box-black-history-month/.

“Unaccompanied Non-Idiomatic Choral Music of Black Composers.” The Choral Journal 61, no. 4 (November 2020): 16–33.

Selected Music Publications

Alleluia, Cantate Domino – Gentry Publications – motet for SATB divisi choir

Hold On! – Walton Music – Negro spiritual for SATB divisi choir

Invitation to Love – Santa Barbara Music – choral art song for SSA choir, piano

My Heart Be Brave – Oxford University Press – part song for SATB choir and TTBB choir

Ride On, King Jesus – GIA Publications – Negro spiritual for SATB divisi choir

Ring Out, Ye Bells – Beckenhorst Press – Christmas anthem for SATB choir, piano, bells

Rise, Shine! – MorningStar Music – Negro spiritual for SATB divis choir

Sing Out, My Soul – Beckenhorst Press – choral art song for SATB choir, piano and SSA choir, piano

Sit Down, Servant – G. Schirmer – Negro spiritual for SATB choir

We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace – Mark Foster Music – Negro spiritual for SATB divisi choir

Were You There – GIA Publications – Negro spiritual for SATB choir, piano and TTBB choir, piano

Courses

MUED 374 - Advanced Conducting
MUAP 921 - Choral Conducting
MUSC 972A - Choral Lit before 1600
MUSC 972B - Choral Lit 1600-1750
MUSC 972D - Choral Lit 1750-1900
MUSC 972E - Choral Lit from 1900
All-Collegiate Choir
Chamber Singers
University Chorale

Honors and Awards

2022 THE AMERICAN PRIZE • Second Place • Choral Performance—College/University Division—Larger Program • University of Nebraska–Lincoln Chamber Singers
2021 HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS • Hixson-Lied Junior Faculty Teaching Award