Dr. Marcus Miller

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Multifaceted saxophonist and composer, Marcus Elliot, has emerged as one of the leading voices in the Detroit music scene. Hailing from New York, he has been described as having a 'convincing, confident, evolved touch tone.' The Detroit Free Press remarked, 'Marcus Elliot represents a generation of jazz.' He is dedicated to communicating music as a shared human experience and leads his own ensemble, the 'Marcus Elliot Quintet.' Additionally, he co-leads a duo project called 'BALANCE' with pianist Michael Malis and is a vibrant solo performer, as well as the director of a large ensemble named 'Beyond Rebellious.' Elliot is in constant demand as a sideman and possesses a uniquely rooted sound that reflects his courageous appetite for exploration in improvisation and a deep love for expressing beauty in composition. He is fully devoted to the transformative practice of sound connection. Committed to intergenerational knowledge transfer of artistic heritage, he has spent his adult life learning from master musicians such as Marcus Belgrave, Geri Allen, and Vijay Iyer. He has a teaching background that spans 20 years, including positions as an instructor of jazz saxophone and director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic Jazz Ensembles, teaching at the Community Music School Detroit, Young Musicians Program in Berkeley, CA, and Interlochen Arts Academy. Currently, he is a jazz saxophone instructor at Wayne State University and the director of the Creative Arts Orchestra at the University of Michigan.

Research Interests

Experience

Lecturer; Director, Creative Arts Orchestra

2022-09-01 — Present

University of Michigan • Ann Arbor, MI

Instructing courses as a Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation lecturer, leading a creative arts orchestra.

Awards

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Joyce Awards

2024-01-01
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Kresge Fellowship

2020-01-01
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New Music USA grant

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Red Bull Music Academy Award

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Detroit Composers Project Grant

Requirements for University of Michigan

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Total
Required:84
GRE General
Verbal
Required:155
Verbal Percentile
Required:50
Quantitative
Required:168
Quantitative Percentile
Required:50
Analytical Writing
Required:3.6
Writing Percentile
Required:50
Prerequisites
Bachelor degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics Calculus Physics
Application Checklist
  • Rackham Graduate School Application
  • Official Transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • CV/Resume
Specialization Notes

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science