Marc Whitlock

Mr. Marc Whitlock currently serves as the band director for Discovery Middle School in Canton, Michigan. Students have opportunities to perform in concert bands, chamber ensembles, percussion ensembles, and other small instrumental groups throughout the year. The Discovery Band has earned consistent superior ratings at district and state band festivals and chamber festivals during his tenure.

The Discovery Band is actively involved in commissioning new music for the band genre. In 2015, the Discovery Band commissioned and premiered “Stone Gardens” by Robert W. Smith, which is a work that focuses on the iconic location of Arlington National Cemetery and illustrates through music and optional narration the ultimate sacrifice the men and women of our military have made for the defense of our country. Discovery is currently partnering with the N-BEAM consortium (New Band Electro-Acoustic Music) that will feature three new compositions to be premiered in consecutive years that will incorporate technology with music performance and will feature composers Benjamin Taylor (“Techno Blade” 2018), Daniel Montoya (2019), and Alex Shapiro (2020).

The Foundation of Music Education through its national wind honors project, The Mark of Excellence, has recognized the Discovery Middle School Band for their outstanding musical achievement. This is a recorded music contest offering bands, choirs, and orchestras the unprecedented opportunity to earn national recognition for their musical achievement. Discovery Middle School Band met their high-standard criteria and was selected as the winner from the state of Michigan.

Mr. Whitlock has also been a band director at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Michigan, Hebron High School in Texas, and Marian Catholic High School in Illinois. During his time as a high school band director, his bands earned consistent superior ratings at band festivals and chamber festivals, the UIL Sweepstakes Award, fourteen state marching band championships, eight Bands of America national class championships, and three times was named the Bands of America Grand National Champion. His bands have also performed at the Music For All National Concert Band Festival, the Presidential Inauguration, and the band was a recipient of the Sudler Shield awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

Mr. Whitlock was formerly the music manager/supervisor for the Broadway production of Blast!, which won a Tony Award and an Emmy award. Other honors include the Sudler Shield from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, being selected to represent the state of Michigan in the School Band and Orchestra magazine special edition, “50 Band Directors Who Make A Difference”, instructed select performers for the NBA All-Star Game, the Olympics in Atlanta, The World Cup Soccer Championships, was a founding staff member of the U.S. Army All-American Band and has also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Mr. Whitlock is the recipient of the Extra Miler Award and the Marathon Award from the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools for outstanding dedication and service to the students, parents, and community. His articles have been published in publications such as School Band and Orchestra, Michigan Music Educator, and the Maine Music Educator Association, and he has also given webinars for several organizations including the National Association of Music Parents (AMP).

Mr. Whitlock has been actively involved in the drum corps activity since 1980 and has been in demand as a clinician/program consultant/designer for many corps, including the Blue Stars, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, Star of Indiana, Troopers, and is currently serving as a music consultant for The Cadets. Many of the drum corps he has worked with have been DCI Finalists, recipients of the Jim Ott High Brass Award and have been crowned the DCI World Champions. Many of the marching bands he has worked with have been named State Champions, BOA class champions, and BOA National Finalists.

Mr. Whitlock serves as the Chief Judge for WGI Winds and also adjudicates for marching bands, drum corps, percussion ensembles, winter drumlines, concert bands, and orchestras. Other affiliations include the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA), the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), the Michigan Competing Bands Association (MCBA), the Michigan Colorguard Circuit (MCGC), the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association (CWEA), Drum Corps International (DCI), Bands of America (BOA), and e-Adjudicate. Besides adjudicating for invitational contests across the country, he has also served as an adjudicator for state championships in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, and South Carolina, and has also adjudicated for the Bands of America Grand National Championships and the WGI World Championships.

Mr. Whitlock is happily married to Kellie Whitlock, and they have three wonderful children.