Marcia Stockton composer / arranger

Marcia Stockton (ASCAP) is a composer and cellist in northern Nevada. Despite writing serious music since 1995, nothing was offered the public until 2013. In the next few years she premiered eight pieces and secured publication contracts with three music publishers.

Her music studies started early with piano and cello, and continued throughout high school where she played in youth orchestras, sang in choirs, and conducted. Majoring in music at Swarthmore College (1975) with a concentration in music theory, she studied with two renowned Philadelphia Orchestra cellists, and played in two amateur orchestras: the Main Line Symphony and the Musical Coterie of Wayne (as principal).

Changing focus, Marcia had a distinguished professional career in the computer industry from 1983-2006. She joined IBM in 1988 to lead the design of advanced networking and software products, recognized as a master inventor with 82 patents spanning several fields. A favorite speaker at industry conferences, she advised CIOs of Fortune 100 companies on six continents and published over 60 technical articles.

Upon leaving IBM, she and her husband Greg lived off-the-grid on a primitive ranch/homestead by the Sequoia National Forest, raised beef cattle, tended a unique wilderness site, did organic gardening, and ran a small publishing business. During that challenging decade, music necessarily took a back seat to survival. They returned to civilization in 2013, settling in the Carson Valley, rejuvenated with a powerful sense of musical mission.

Marcia composes music primarily for strings. She teaches cello and volunteers with the Carson Valley Sinfonia, a unique community orchestra in rural Nevada whose goal is to give students experience playing in an ensemble. The Sinfonia has premiered many new pieces and ignited many music careers. Playing chamber music and inspiring students is her passion. She also enjoys photography, gardening, chess, and baseball. While Marcia finds creative inspiration in music from all eras, she often succumbs to an impish urge to insert unexpected harmonies, to the delight of audiences!