Performer Biography

Marquise Lindsey-Bradley (MLB) is a classically trained clarinetist who uses music as afoundation for leadership and service in his community. As a proud native of Philadelphia,Marquise has dedicated his early career to redefining how local audiences experience theperforming arts in the 21st century. In addition to a busy performance schedule, he serves as theCreative Program Coordinator for Olney Culture Lab and the Marketing Manager for Artcinia,an organization that presents professional performing arts concerts in neighborhoods throughoutthe city of Philadelphia.

Marquise began his classical training at the age of 13 as a student in Temple University’sCommunity Music Scholars Program. His passion for music led him to Philadelphia’s premierarts school, CAPA High School. At 16, he was accepted into the Primavera Fund, anorganization that financially supports young artists in their musical endeavors. With theirsupport, a career in music became possible for him. Over the next four years, he sought afterevery intensive program the Philly music education ecosystem had to offer– including thePhiladelphia Youth Orchestra, Project 440, the PMAY Artists’ Initiative, and the SettlementMusic School.

MLB earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Afendi Yusuf, Principal Clarinet of the Cleveland Orchestra. He also completed an academic minor in Business Management at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. Marquise has presented numerous solo and chamber recitals across the Greater Philadelphia and Northeast Ohio regions, and made his solo debut at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in 2019 as the winner of the All-City Concerto Competition. With his goal to make live music more accessible, MLB has performed and programmed concerts in a wide variety of schools, churches, bars, private homes, and community gardens, respectively. An avid speaker on the value of musical literacy and diversity in the arts, MLB has developed quite the reputation as an advocate in the field. He has presented to local and national audiences in collaboration with organizations like the LA Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Sphinx Organization, and the Western Reserve Historical Society. Additionally, he has been a featured guest on Andrew Hitz’s The Entrepreneurial Musician and Audio Olney podcasts. In his freetime, Marquise enjoys hanging out with his friends (who graciously tolerate his snarky sense of humor), running, hiking, biking, and writing poetry.