Freelance Percussion Specialist
Carmel, IN
Originally from Tampa, Florida, Marissa Turney is a Percussion Specialist residing in Carmel, Indiana. Marissa has been active in Indiana since 2014 as a performer, private instructor, and percussion director. Marissa currently performs with the Greater Greenwood Community Band, is a private instructor at Carmel Music Center and is Director of Percussion at Mount Vernon High School in Fortville, Indiana where she has been since the Fall of 2020.
Marissa holds degrees in Percussion Performance from Indiana University and the University of Central Florida and has sought a well-rounded approach in her performance and teaching outlets. With both playing and teaching roots in the marching arts, Marissa has enjoyed diversifying her knowledge with studies in Orchestral literature, Jazz Studies, Chamber Music, Steel band, Afro- Cuban, Brazilian Samba, and Latin Jazz Ensembles. From 2016-2019 Marissa served as Percussion Consultant for the Orchestra and Wind Ensembles of Carmel High School and was Percussion Director for Clay, Creekside, and Carmel Middle Schools. Marissa co-founded the Carmel Drum Club for middle school percussionists in 2017 and has a passion for early and cohesive percussion education throughout a student’s journey through the band program.
Marissa has recently joined the Conn Selmer Division of Education team and has served as faculty with the Conn Selmer Institute. Marissa has previously served as faculty for the Music for All Summer Symposium and University of Central Florida’s Percussion Institute. She has presented on topics related to Afro-Cuban and Brazilian Music/Culture, Percussion in the Concert Band Setting, and Percussion Instrument Maintenance.