ABOUT US

Marquis Studios is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing arts-­in­‐education services to 170 New York City public schools annually. We strive to develop a strong partnership between artists and teachers by providing arts programs to supplement traditional classroom teaching techniques. Each residency or workshop focuses on a specific visual or performing arts discipline selected by school staff and administration.

Founded in 1977, Marquis Studios has served over 500,000 students, 28,000 teachers and 18,000 parents at schools throughout New York City. Working with a diverse population, 80% of programs serve students living at or below the poverty line with over 50% of all grant-funded programming serving classrooms containing with disabilities.

Marquis Studios Offers:

  • Programming consisting of ten-week arts residencies taught by our staff of trained teaching artists.
  • A full spectrum of arts residencies that encourage student exploration of visual arts, theatre, music, dance architecture, circus arts and puppetry.
  • Custom designed programs to meet the educational goals set by the school through collaboration with Marquis Studios and classroom teachers.
  • Programs that address New York State Learning Standards, both in the arts and academic areas.
  • Professional development for classroom teachers to provide arts education techniques and concepts that can be brought back to the classroom.
  • Parent/Child Workshops that help parents understand the connection between arts and academics while providing a fun, hands­‐on experience parents and children can share.

OUR TEACHING ARTISTS

Marquis Studios employs 90 professional teaching artists whom specialize in a variety of disciplines. If you are interested in becoming a Teaching Artist visit our careers page.

  • Joan Merwyn

    Joan Merwyn has worked creatively with both general education students and special needs populations since 1983. As a movement, theater, mime, circus and multi-arts specialist, she conducts mentoring services, artist-in-residencies and professional development training seminars for educators and teaching artists. Joan is an original co-creator of the federally funded Everyday Arts for Special Education (EASE), through Urban Arts Partnership, and has also served special needs populations extensively through Hospital Audiences, Inc. (now called Healing Arts Initiative) With Marquis Studios, Joan offers professional development for teaching artists and special education teachers in autism spectrum classrooms at Teaching Artist Training Institute (TATI). She has taught a wide range of students from professional performers and teachers to developmentally and cognitively challenged people of all ages. Joan has been a Marquis Studios teaching artist since 1996.

  • Beata Moon

    A versatile musician acclaimed for her expressivity and sincerity, Beata Moon continues to reach audiences through her many-faceted roles as composer, pianist and educator. Moon graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Juilliard School where she was a student of Adele Marcus. After completing a semester of the Masters Degree Program at Juilliard, she took a break from playing to reflect on what music meant to her personally. It was at this time that she discovered composing and teaching, which has resulted in her return to performing. The last eighteen years have seen Moon produce works in a variety of genres, including solo instrumental, chamber and voice. Her four CDs of original music were enthusiastically received by press and public alike and continue to be broadcast on radio stations throughout the world. Reviewer Andrew Druckenbrod of Gramophone magazine wrote, “Moon writes compelling music that is utterly sincere…” Through her various roles as an educator, performer and composer, Moon fulfills her wish to work musically with people of all ages and backgrounds. She believes that creating and making music (not just listening to music) can be an invigorating way to process life’s varied experiences. Moon hopes to reach and engage all people through her music and work. Beata has been a Marquis Studios teaching artist since 2014.

  • Hector Morales

    Drummer and percussionist, Hector Morales is a national and international performer with 10 years of experience teaching music in the Tri-State area. Mr. Morales is the Author of the “The Afro-Peruvian Percussion Ensemble” – Instructional book/DVD published by Sher Music Co, and was nominated in the “Best Educational Book of 2014” category by Modern Drummer Magazine. He has also been the recipient of a grant from NALAC (National Association of Latino Arts and Culture) and sponsorship from the Peruvian Government to promote his book within universities in the U.S. As an educator, Morales was granted the “2015 Artist of The Year Award” by Young Audiences, the largest arts organization network in America. His credits include: leading professional developments to music educators in conferences such as Face to Face Conference (leading arts-in-education conference in NYC), The New Jersey Music Educators State Conference presented by MENC and CLAEM (Latin American Music Schools Congress, Colombia 2013). Morales has performed in Lincoln Center (USA), The National Museum of Peru (Peru), the “Society of Musicians and Composers of Chile” (Chile), “Festival du Monde Arabe de Montreal” (Canada), Jerusalem Music Festival (Israel), among others. He has also performed with distinguished musicians such as Grammy award-winning bass players John Benitez and Oscar Stagnaro. Hector has been a Marquis Studios teaching artist since 2005.