Testimonials

“Adding Marc to our band’s creative team as Program Coordinator has made such a positive impact on our design process! His communication skills are top notch and he proves himself to be a go-getter who never stops until the project is completed. His wide range of skill sets comes from working with some of the most successful and notable marching bands and drum corps across the country, and you can always count on Marc to have a team mindset that works toward bringing all of the components of the show design process together. His critical eye and ear that is an absolute necessity when it comes to choosing the right design path, as every choice comes with its own unique challenges. Bringing Marc into the fold was without question the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Ray Linkous
Band Director at the Award-Winning Nation Ford HS Band (SC); Former Brass Instructor with Carolina Crown and Cadets

“I have known and worked with Marc for many years and his knowledge and passion for excellence is unrivaled. He is a master educator and a brilliant motivator of staffs and students. Marc is a very creative program designer and our collaborations over the years have produced outstanding results in Drum Corps International and in Bands of America Championships. His integrity and work ethic make Marc Whitlock a perfect partner for any program!”

Jay Bocook
Hall of Fame Composer; Brass Arranger for The Cadets

“I have known Marc for more than 30 years. Ten of those years were spent working with me at Marian Catholic.  His background is incredible.  He has performed with DCI champions, taught DCI champions, taught BOA Champions, judged all levels of concert and marching bands and indoor winds, and taught the Broadway cast of “Blast!”… the list is very long! Marc is also a consummate professional.  He is a dedicated, hard-working professional who always follows through.  I would absolutely trust him with my program at Marian! If you are looking for help in any way with your program I highly recommend contacting Marc.  He has decades of insight and experience to share.”

Greg Bimm
Director of Bands, Marian Catholic HS (IL), Seven-Time BOA National Champions

“Marc has been and will always be a mentor of mine.  What makes Marc invaluable is that he has the experience, thoughts, insight, and ideas about anything and everything; being a band director and the challenges of running a program … pedagogy on all instruments brass, woodwinds, percussion … marching band design plus anything with your concert band.  As much knowledge and experience as he has, the best part of Marc is that he is an incredible human being, great to talk to, and will ALWAYS want to help.”

Matt Harloff
Band Director at BOA National Champion Avon HS (IN); Brass Caption Head at DCI Champion and Seven-Time DCI Brass winner Carolina Crown

“Marc came to the Morton band program and engaged our students musically, emotionally, spiritually, and technically. He challenged the students to be better versions of themselves and got them to dig deeper into the music and understand what they were playing. He also inspired and motivated our directors, giving all meaningful advice and motivation. Most importantly the students continued to respond after Marc left, showing he not only inspired them and caught their eye, but he educated them to remember how it felt to be better versions of themselves. Marc can wear many hats in the band room. He is personal, thoughtful, smart, clever, positive, and holds a high level of integrity. I highly recommend Marc visit anyone’s program.”

Tim Gray
Director of Bands, Morton HS (IL)
2022 Illinois State Marching Band Champions, 2022 Superstate Concert Festival Featured Band, and 2023 Music For All National Concert Band Featured Band

“Marc Whitlock is one of those people that from the moment you involve him with your program you have a consultant, advocate, and friend for life. Marc has gone above and beyond to help me and our students in any way possible. He consistently over-delivers on what is asked with integrity, kindness, and an overwhelming wealth of experience. Marc is a fantastic human who is an asset to any program/educator he works with and will do everything in his power to give your students (and you) the best experience and skills to be successful.”

Brittany Dacy
Associate Director of Bands at the Award-Winning Westwood High School Band (TX)

“Marc Whitlock is the consummate music educator with experience at all levels of the music curriculum. He is an outstanding consultant and resource person for school concert and marching band programs as well as marching band show planning. His vast range of experience and success is documented in the About menu, and band programs that work with Marc will clearly see a positive impact from his involvement.”

Wayne Markworth
Retired Director of Bands at the BOA National Champion Centerville High School Band (OH), Director of Winds for WGI, and Author of The Dynamic Marching Band

“As someone who lives by the Dr. Tim philosophy of “Surrounding yourself with the BEST,” I can think of no better in my career that I have “surrounded” myself with than Marc Whitlock. Marc is a world-class pedagogue, a brilliant pageantry designer, and an outstanding motivator of students!”

Dean Westman
Program Coordinator for the DCI Champion Bluecoats and Founding Orchestra Director for the ISSMA Champion Avon HS (IN)

“From the moment I spoke to Marc about working together, he displayed the highest caliber of professionalism, character, musicianship, and collegiality. As our Program Coordinator at Novi, he immediately invested time and energy in the program as a whole. He took time to ask questions and meet regularly to learn about our band community, to understand our goals, challenges, and structure of the program, and to get to know our staff so he could fully embrace the elements necessary to craft a design that was best for us.

If you have the opportunity to work with Marc, jump at the chance, as your program, staff, parents, and students will all benefit greatly from the experience!”

Matt Diroff
Director of Bands at State Finalist Novi HS (MI)

“Marc is a tremendous leader and collaborator in any music production. His track record over decades of marching band experience speaks for itself. Marc’s communication, attention to detail, and musical instincts are such an asset to any team that is trying to put together an entertaining, educational and competitive show. Each project I have collaborated on with him has gone very smoothly, and the clients are always extremely satisfied.”

Kevin Leboeuf
Brass Caption Head at Bluecoats and Aimachi; Prolific Marching Band Arranger

“Marc Whitlock is a master educator, musician, and person. I have been one of Marc’s students and am now pleased to consider him a colleague. As a student of Marc’s, I appreciated the value he placed on strong relationships and care for those he taught. As a colleague, I witness these relationships resulting in the achievement of high expectations. This past spring, Marc Whitlock was able to work in person with the Franklin High School Bands. He immensely helped not only with our musicianship, but most importantly he helped with the band’s collective heart. He helped remind us all of the importance of making music with each other while pushing our pursuit of excellence. Marc is highly organized, and his level of follow-through is appreciated and greatly needed with the business that we band directors experience. I highly recommend having Marc Whitlock be a part of your program; he will help you to be a better teacher and person, just as he’ll help your students.”

Briana Engelbert Vogt
Assistant Director of Bands, the Award-Winning Franklin High School Band (TN)