Music Director
Markovich was teaching assistant to the late renowned Leon Russianoff of The Juilliard School. She was on the teaching faculty of Tidewater Music Festival and guest lecturer at the American Single Reed Workshop and Kean College. Having learned to play most orchestral and band instruments, she has directed and conducted school bands and orchestras in New Jersey and Kansas City.
Scribe the Light
To fill my tank, I go on feeding frenzies and graze on styles from hymns, program music, film, pop, improvisation…and beyond.
It all brings light…and light is what I focus on. I try to scribe the light.
Winning Combo
An education degree in band and orchestral instruments coupled with high-level performance experience and work under renowned conductors and coaches have all nurtured Markovich’s creative ability to orchestrate.
Influences
“Composers ranging from Bach, Brahms, Copland, Stravinsky, Tower, John Williams, Barber, Higdon, Pärt, León, to the unknown electronic wonder down the block rock my world. I steer clear of burning pianos under a mic or smashing guitars for the tone color, though I have dropped a few ping pong balls painted in dayglow paint from the balcony. And I just might use a few brake drums and chisels in Cornerstone.” ~ Judith
Accolades
“I’ve always felt my music should speak for itself. People either like it or don’t. It doesn’t depend on a having a long list of compositional accolades, residencies, doctorate, being the winner of “Name That Symphony” or being in a repressed minority group or two. Nor does it depend on connections to outer space. But just in case some risk takers need a name or two, understandably, I have had some sessions with Joan Tower, and I love that gal! She shoots straighter from the hip than John Wayne.
Read on for a some words from some professionals who may know me better than I know myself.
“Judith…is one of the most gifted young instrumentalists I know…her musical instincts and sensitivities are exceptional…has that special flare that eludes many musicians.”
Franklin Cohen, Principal Clarinet, Cleveland Orchestra
“That is some of the finest clarinet playing I have ever heard.”
Barry Tuckwell, international French Horn recording artist
“That is the most beautiful clarinet sound I have ever heard!”
Conductor of a west coast ballet company
“…beautiful sound…very insightful musicianship, transcends the technical difficulties of her instrument and phrases with great maturity and feeling…I want to recommend her to you as strongly as I can. I am proud to have been her teacher and her friend and will watch her as her exciting career as musician and artist teacher unfolds.”
The late Leon Russianoff
World Renowned Instructor of Clarinet, The Juilliard School
EXPERIENCED AS A PERFORMER
Judith Markovich received a B.M. degree in education from Ithaca College, and a M.M. degree in performance from the Juilliard School. She has coached extensively in chamber music under Robert Bloom and Ronald Roseman. She has performed chamber music with Glynis Fowles of the NYC Opera, informally with Jorge Mester of the Aspen Music Festival, and as a regular performing faculty member of the Tidewater Music Festival. She has appeared under the baton of James Chambers, Gerard Schwarz, James Conlon, Sixten Ehrling, principal clarinet under Louis Lane, as well as led the Brioso Woodwind Quintet for the Lincoln Center public school concert programs. An award-winning clarinetist, she is an experienced performer in chamber, orchestral, show, and opera music, as well as worship improvisation. She has performed at the International Clarinet Clinic, on Robert Sherman’s Listening Room (WQXR-New York), Carnegie Recital Hall, and performed “Derivations” as featured soloist with the University of Akron Jazz Ensemble at the request of Morton Gould. Alec Wilder, Allan Blank, Gilman Collier, and Larry Smith have written works for her.
Recent Composition Endorsements
LAMENT FOR PIANO QUINTET AND EMPTY CHAIR
“…beautiful and heartfelt…I’d like to find an opportunity to program it this fall.”
Sari Reist, ALIAS Chamber Ensemble
REMEMBER FOR VIOLA, PIANO, CHIME
“Can’t wait for your concerto…I’m your champion!”
Brett Douglas Deubner, international viola virtuoso
THE DABBLING DUCK
“I just listened…what a wonderful piece! I can’t wait to start work on it.”
Beth Wheeler, English hornist, Arkansas Symphony
EMERGENCE
“Fullest admiration…if I had been a composer, this is just the sort of thing I would have composed. So delicate and full of joy…I’m honored.”
Isobel Platings, granddaughter of hymn composer, Martin F. Shaw
“Inspired to create having been at the concert….a treat to experience especially your composition.”
Nick Coetzee, international worship leader/composer
THE LOOKING GLASS
“Delightful! Terrific! So full of light and joy!”
Joan Tower, composer
“I babysat my niece today and we were playing your compositions. She is two and immediately looked up at me and said, do you hear that beautiful music?”
Aimee Callahan, Indiana worship leader
“I absolutely love it…your creative, soulful heart and genius have taken flight!”
Franklin Cohen, former principal clarinetist, Cleveland Orchestra
BEYOND THE NOBLE WAY
“Beautiful, Judith! Such deep, thoughtful writing.”
Rebecca Vendemo, conductor, trumpeter
“Marvelous! I love it!”
Ed Zadrozny, trombonist
My Short Story
Up to age 65, I was a performer. I had no idea I was a composer, nor had I ever had a composition course. Out of necessity, I dabbled with arranging for my band/orchestra programs as a private school teacher–how do you balance three trumpets, one flute and five drummers? However, I didn’t consider that composing nor myself a composer. As I learned to improvise for worship teams, I began to jot down little fragments of tunes and toss them in a drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. Looking back, I see a composer was developing in me outside of my awareness. Then I met an amazing composer/teacher/ performer, David Moser McKay, who has helped fill in the holes from my lack of compositional training. In August of 2019, I also began to mentor with Joan Tower. At 71, the fact that I truly am a composer became a no brainer for me.
Hopefully, this website will convince you that it is never too late,
nor are you too old to believe in the callings on your life,
whether composing, conducting, or writing,
even if those gifts have been buried for decades.
You are worth it!
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