As soloist, clinician, orchestral timpanist-percussionist, conductor, and teacher, Dr. Marrs’ professional experience spans over 50 years and four continents. His principal orchestral positions include the orchestras of Louisville, Bolivia, Costa Rica, and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, where he continues to serve as Principal Percussion. His freelance experience includes such diverse areas as TV, Ice Capades, jazz, symphonic orchestra, experimental groups, and solo and chamber recital performances. Stuart Marrs has an extensive international profile having taught and performed in Singapore, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, El Salvador, Bolivia, and Costa Rica.
Dr. Marrs taught at the National University of Costa Rica, Indiana University, and from 1985 until his retirement in 2023 at the University of Maine. Dr. Marrs maintains an online teaching studio with students from around the world. In addition to his teaching and performance, while at UMaine Marrs also occupied the position of Chair of the Music Division and for the university at large served as Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education. Dr. Marrs received his doctorate from Indiana University School of Music. Dr. Marrs tours the US, Asia, Europe, and Latin America as soloist, conductor, clinician, and teacher.
In 2005, he authored the ground-breaking analytical DVD, Stuart Marrs on Elliott Carter: Eight Pieces for Four Timpani – Performance and Analysis, which received international attention. Today, much of the DVD content is now viewable on Dr. Marrs’ YouTube channel.