Marion is a musician, researcher, community music practitioner and teacher. Growing up in Leeds, Marion began learning the violin during the latter years of high school, and quickly set their sights on a career in music as they progressed through the grades. Whilst doing work experience at a luthier shop, Marion had the opportunity to test out a viola and immediately fell in love with the instrument’s tone and range. This later led to Marion changing their instrumental specialism to viola in their university studies.
Marion studied Music at the University of Manchester, with a focus on both viola performance and musicology. They graduated with First Class hons in 2019, and continued their studies at Manchester with a Masters in Ethnomusicology, graduating with Distinction in 2022. Formed by their own non-conventional route into a music career, Marion has always been drawn towards work that aims to break down the inequalities that exist in the music sector and facilitate artistic and musical empowerment in others.
Marion moved to the Calder Valley in 2024, and transitioned into a freelance music career around the same time. Currently Marion works as music instructor, arts practitioner and facilitator in a wide array of educational and community settings across West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. Marion also performs frequently across the North as a viola player and singer in a variety of ensembles and bands, in both a classical context and in folk traditions.
When they’re not playing or teaching viola, you will often find Marion rambling somewhere in the forests and moorlands of Calderdale.