About Marcel

A Short BIOGRAPHY

Marcel Penzes is an energized, exciting, and fervent trombonist in the Baltimore-Washington area, specializing in the jazz sounds of New Orleans and the boldness of Pan-American music. From an early age, Penzes performed at some of D.C.’s most famous venues, such as the Kennedy Center and Blues Alley. Being a product of the Washington D.C. music scene, Penzes is continually inspired by the diverse cultural landscape of the region, from Go-go to funk, salsa to jazz, reggae to rock, and everything in between. 

Penzes has played in bands accompanying Briann Lynch, Carmen Bradford, and Mike Rodriguez. In addition to sharing the stage with these modern greats, he has also opened for Joey Defranceso, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gabriel Alegria, and other notable jazz artists. Penzes has performed with trumpet prodigy Geoff Gallante, in the award winning and nationally acclaimed Capital Focus Jazz Band. He has also performed at many of the D.C. area’s jazz festivals, including the DC Jazz Fest, the Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the Silver Spring Jazz Festival. Penzes has played at many of the D.C. region’s major venues and cultural institutions, including the Anthem, the Embassy of France, the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building, Audi Field,  Keystone Korner, Rams Head On Stage, the AMP by Strathmore, the Rubell Museum, and the Black Rock Center for the Arts. Penzes has also performed on local station’s Fox 5 and WUSA-9. 

Penzes is also a member of the WAMMIE nominated Crush Funk Brass Band, who during the COVID-19 pandemic, has provided over 150 free performances all around the DC metro area in support of mental health, through their Cabin Fever Concert Series. 

In addition to performing, Marcel has a trombone and improvised music teaching studio, where students of improvisation and trombone alike, can look to improve their craft. 

Marcel holds a B.M. in Jazz Studies from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with Wayne Wallace. Currently, he is pursuing his M.M. in Jazz Studies at Johns Hopkins' Peabody Conservatory, where he studies under Dr. Javier Nero.