Today we’d like to introduce you to Spencer Merk.
Hi Spencer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1998 and spent most of my childhood in West Chester. I have two amazing brothers and two amazing parents. From a young age, my parents encouraged me to learn music, enrolling me in classes as a young boy and starting me in piano lessons when I was a little older. My brothers are also professional musicians and everyone always asks us if our parents played music. My father never played music at all, although he loves it, and introduced us to his favorite band (Bruce Springsteen) at a young age. My mother was a serious flute player in high school and college but didn’t continue after, although she can still play very well. Her father was an organist (playing at the Indiana Pacers’ basketball games) and a chemist at Nabisco with a patented margarine to his name.
Unfortunately, I never got to meet him due to a bad bout with lung cancer before my birth, but I believe he’s the origin of the musical blood in the family. I started playing the trombone in the 6th grade. In the 7th grade, I joined the school jazz band and fell in love with the music. As I got older, I had some teachers, namely trombonist Dominic Marino and trumpeter Eric Lechliter that gave me insight into the life of a professional Jazz musician, and I was hooked. I decided to attend the College-Conservatory of Music at UC to study Music Education and Jazz Trombone. I graduated in the Spring of 2021. During my time there, I studied trombone with Marc Fields who helped me develop my skills on the instrument and helped me begin to write music. I learned how to play professional music with a professional band under the direction of Dr. Scott Belck with the CCM Jazz Orchestra and had the amazing opportunity to travel to São Paulo, Brazil to play with the band. At the end of my Music Education studies, I had the privilege of student-teaching with Kevin Sweatman at Oak Hills and Ben Loyer at Twenhofel Middle School. These two great teachers were incredible role models for how to teach children of all ages and backgrounds.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Anyone who pursues the mastery of any craft knows that every single day brings with it a large degree of struggle.
Jazz musicians have to practice their instruments for several hours every single day. This involves waking up early or staying up late and being very honest with yourself regarding which weaknesses you need to target. As a brass player, you need to budget the endurance in your facial muscles that let you play the instrument. Sometimes, you work hard all week and you get to the gig and you STILL sound bad. It’s absolutely crushing to feel like all of your hard work and sacrifice was for nothing and it happens all the time.
On top of all of this, you need to make a living. This can sometimes involve playing in degrading situations just so you can make a little money or even get another job. Personally, it’s been difficult for me to see several of my friends in other professions get good jobs, get a nice apartment, enroll in health insurance, start working on their retirement fund, and buy a nice car. Being a musician feels like betting on yourself to develop a high level of skill and artistry. In a way, I like this because you’re betting on something that you can control. Unfortunately, many important factors out of your control also come into play like health, exposure, and opportunities. It’s a risky profession, but I have to believe that my hard work will eventually be rewarded.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
After graduating, I began teaching private trombone lessons at Walnut Hills High School, and in 2022, I began work as the Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Xavier University. In my post-college life, I’ve been very busy writing and playing music. I lead and write for my Beatles Jazz quintet, We Are the Walrus, which plays frequently in Cincinnati, and had the pleasure of playing at the Columbus Jazz and Ribs Fest and the Cincinnati BLINK Festival. I play and write for the local Latin Jazz group, El Ritmo del Mañana and have my compositions and arrangements featured on their first release, Escalón (Eleanor Rigby, Portobay), their Christmas album, released in December 2022 (Sleigh Ride, God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen, Go Tell it on the Mountain, White Christmas), and their third studio album, released in early 2023 (King-Sized and Sauna Boy). During my time in Cincinnati, I have been lucky enough to perform with Jeff Hamilton, Ohio native Kim Deal (The Pixies, The Breeders), Scott Robinson, Joel Frahm, Sam Blakeslee, Gary Winters, and John Von Ohlen. in July of 2022, I won the International Trombone Association’s J.J. Johnson Competition for Jazz trombonists under the age of 25. The competition took place at the International Trombone Festival at the University of Central Arkansas. I got to meet other Jazz trombonists my age (not a common occurrence for me) and attend world-class concerts and masterclasses. My judging panel consisted of world-class trombonists Michael Dease, Ido Meshulam, and Charlie Halloran. My prize was a custom trombone from the Michael Rath company in the U.K.
My debut album, Last Place in a Bear Race, is made up of music that was written during my time at the College-Conservatory of Music. A majority of the tunes were written in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project features Christian Paradiso on tenor sax, Derek Johnson on drums, Ryan Jones on piano and Fender Rhodes, and Ethan Marsh on acoustic and electric bass. These are all inspired and adventurous musicians who have forged great personal and musical connections with each other during their time in Cincinnati’s vibrant music community. With this project, I aimed to explore a wide array of jazz styles, prioritizing variety to create a fresh and engaging experience for listeners. The compositions reflect my creative and experimental approach, informed heavily by an appreciation and love for Jazz music from all different eras and styles.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
You can listen to my album at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/spencermerk/last-place-in-a-bear-race. If you’d like to purchase a CD, you can contact me on my website or at smerk926@gmail.com.
You can find my website at https://www.spencermerkmusic.com/.
Pricing:
- CD is $15 + Shipping
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.spencermerkmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearethewalruscincy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearethewalruscincy/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM-UkR6yTU-ew0X3YrG1N2g
- Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/spencermerk/last-place-in-a-bear-race
Image Credits
Zion Sosa, Brandon Coleman
