Expertise • Enthusiasm • Excellence
Lisa Marcus
Voice, Piano
A classical pianist and vocalist since childhood, Lisa gained her BA (honors) at Yale majoring in Economics/Political Science and Spanish, followed by an MMus in Commercial Arranging and Piano at Berklee, where she was recipient of the John Dankworth Award for Excellence in Arranging.
A multi-faceted musician, Lisa is a freelance vocal coach and accompanist who has helped countless young people and adults with vocal skills, interpretation and audition prep. She is Choir Director, Cantorial Soloist and Bar Mitzvah Coach at Congregation B’nai Shalom in Westborough. Lisa has been Musical Director, pianist and coach for “Godspell” and “13 The Musical”, and has also taught music at the JCC preschool.
Lisa performs as pianist and vocalist in several professional jazz quintets, including Fratturnity and the Brad Ellenberg group. She is soprano for Boston Jazz Voices, and keyboard player and backup vocalist for Flor de Cana. In addition to piano and voice, she plays flute, guitar, and saxophone, and is comfortable performing in a wide range of styles including classical, jazz, Latin, rock and Flamenco.
Lisa is also an award-winning composer, and was twice the Featured Composer at the Shalshelet International Jewish Music Festival.
Meet Lisa
- How/what age did you start your instrument?
I started playing and studying piano when I was 4 years old. I always sang but did not begin studying voice formally until college. - Did you come from a musical family?
Yes, my mother was a fine classical pianist. My aunt was a piano teacher and her younger sister ran a dance school (which I consider "music adjacent"). That same aunt was also a fine pianist and loved to sing. My cousin in Montreal is the co-founder, producer and percussionist of a very successful jazz fusion band, Manteca. - Best or funniest (or even worst!) musical memory from childhood?
I can't remember a funny musical memory from childhood but there is one from my adult performing career that is very funny. My 7-piece band was playing a club date. I was out front singing a power ballad whose climax featured a key change on a high note. I threw my arms up into the air and belted out the high note in the new key; the band, however, did not change keys with me! It was so embarrassing that it was funny. I don't think anything will ever top that funny/embarrassing moment. - A highlight or two from your performing career:
A big highlight and an honor was when I was asked to write the arrangement of one of Bonnie Raitt's hit songs for the commencement concert at my Berklee College of Music graduation. Bonnie Raitt handed me my diploma and commented to me that it was great to see a woman receiving a writing degree. (I studied arranging and piano.) Another highlight was my time living and working as a musician in Spain. Those years broadened my musical and cultural horizons. I had the opportunity to play in a flamenco group as well as the backing bands for some famous Spanish musicians. - What do you love about teaching?
I love so many things about teaching: creating a relationship with each student; learning what the students are excited to play and seeing them accomplish that goal; making music fun and exciting; giving students an outlet to express their creativity and to find a community. (Throughout school, my band, chorus and musical theater friends were my closest friends. Helping students have music in their lives opens doors to communities, friendships and opportunities. - What would you like your students to know about you?
I would like my students to know that I want to know them not only as students or musicians, but as people, and that together we will take a journey that can change their lives in exciting and wonderful ways. - Can you share a non-musical fun fact about you?
I lived in Spain for four years and loved it. I also spent two weeks touring Germany on a private tour bus with an Italian musical group. That is a great way to learn Italian in a hurry!