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Headshot  Marks

Congrats to recent Highland High School graduate, Michael Marks! The talented 18-year-old is already making his mark in the professional world of classical music, being chosen to join Arizona Opera’s Orchestra during the blind auditions held in April, taking the Principal Bass chair. Marks is the youngest Arizona Opera Orchestra member in history. “The vote from our esteemed panel of seven orchestral musicians and three administrators was unanimous,” says Ryan Taylor, Interim General Director of Arizona Opera. “Michael offered an extremely nuanced, beautiful performance that stood out in quite a competitive field of his colleagues.”

Marks already has an illustrious resume. He is an alumnus of the Phoenix Youth Symphony and is a member of the American Festival Orchestra. He toured 11 different Chinese cities as part of a New Year celebratory music festival in 2011. Marks is currently a member of the Colburn Orchestra and the American Youth Symphony in Los Angeles, where he is in his second year of undergraduate studies.