A Harley Alum Returns: Mark McGrain ’73 Visits Campus

We were thrilled to welcome back one of our own, Mark McGrain ’73, a celebrated jazz composer, trombonist, and educator who recently visited campus to work with our Jazz Band.

Mark has spent over 50 years as a journeyman musician, with the past 25 years in New Orleans working with iconic artists like Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers, Kirk Joseph of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and vocalist John Boutté, who was featured in HBO’s series Treme.

As a bandleader, his group PLUNGE has released four critically acclaimed albums that reached top-ten ranking on the College Music Journal’s (CMJ) Jazz charts and were featured on NPR and in DownBeat Magazine. His latest album, Love, Time, & Divinations, also garnered extensive radio play worldwide.

In addition to his performance career, Mark is a former Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music and the author of the widely respected text, MUSIC NOTATION. His connection to Berklee began in the late 1960s when he took a correspondence course as a high school student, long before he was tapped by the college to create and implement a music preparation program.

It was a truly incredible opportunity for our students to learn directly from a seasoned professional and a proud Harley alum. His visit was a powerful reminder of the lasting connections within our school community and the incredible paths our graduates forge.