About
Marco Jerrod Iannelli (he/him) is a freelance musician based in Maineville, Ohio. Along with being a composer and arranger, he is primarily a piano player who also plays tuba on the side.
He was born and raised in Lebanon, OH, where he was active in the music department at Lebanon City Schools. During his time at Lebanon High School, he was involved in the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band, under the direction of his father, David Iannelli. He was a performer in the Lebanon High School Marching Band for 5 years, and the Indoor Drumline for 6 years.
Before graduating high school, Marco participated in the Auditions Festival at CCM, the Buckeye Music Festival at Xavier University, Practice to Prosper Studio Evaluations at the Cincinnati Music Academy, JME, and Solo and Ensemble Contests. He’s received either excellent or superior ratings at all of these events. He was a student of Dr. Richard Van Dyke from Northern Kentucky University and the Cincinnati Music Academy for 3 years, and he studied under Wade Cummins for 8 years previously.
After high school, Marco lived in Oxford, Ohio for four years, where he attended Miami University as a piano student of Dr. Frank Huang. He graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree, being selected as a finalist for the Outstanding Performer Award for his class. He also co-majored in Film Studies and minored in Composition. Marco performed in ensembles such as the Miami University Marching Band (where he served as one of the drum majors his final year) under Dr. Brooke Johnson, the Wind Ensemble under Mr. Gary Speck, the Symphony Band under Johnson, and the Jazz Ensemble under Dr. Jeremy Long. He also served as the music director for Miami’s chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
As a performer, Marco was a tuba player for The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from 2018-2021, where he was on the leadership team for his last year. He was also a synthesizer player for Rhythm X Indoor Percussion from 2019-2023, receiving a silver medal in 2022 and a bronze medal in 2023. Marco received a gold medal during the 2020 Drum Corps International Performers Showcase, where he performed his original composition, “A Short Suite for Piano Involving a Missing Chair”. He also received a Superior rating during the 2022 WGI Virtual Solo and Ensemble contest, where he performed his original piano composition, “Fleischeresque”.
Marco started his career as a designer by taking lessons on various aspects of the marching arts with various designers in the activity. He now works as the founder of MJI Soundscape Designs, a business centered on music arranging and show design. This has lead him to design for various ensembles around the country. He currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the Licking Heights High School Marching Band, and the Brass and Front Ensemble Arranger for The Columbus Saints Drum and Bugle Corps.
His career as an educator has seen him with various ensembles in and out of Ohio. In the fall, he works on the marching band staff for William Mason High School (Brass Staff and Audio Engineer) and West Clermont High School (Brass Staff). In the winter, he works on the front ensemble and audio staff with ConneXus and Springboro High School Indoor Percussion. In the summer, he was on the Brass Staff with The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He now works as the Assistant Corps Director for The Columbus Saints.
In 2024, Marco was a member of the 2024 Bluecoats Fellowship. During the 2024 season, he worked with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps’ Sound Designer and Music Producer Dr. Matt Jordan. The corps received a gold medal.
Outside of the marching arts, Marco works as a clothing salesman at Jos. A. Bank.
In his free time, Marco likes to write original piano compositions, watch and analyze movies, make short films, cook fun meals, relax around the house, and hang out with his friends and family.