First Friday Jazz/Classical Concerts Sponsored by Dedham School of Music and First Church presents its seventh concert of the 2024-2025 season featuring Marceline Merrill at First Church and Parish in Dedham 670 High Street, Dedham on Friday, April 4, 2025 at 7:30 pm in the Meetinghouse. (There will be refreshments for purchase).  Tickets are $20 and are available online and at the door. Doors open at 7:00 pm. 

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After her first heart surgery at the age of nine, Marceline Merrill found companionship and solace at the piano. Through their authentic approach, her poised yet emotionally dynamic playing weaves colorful stories that can only be told by music. As a testament to her beloved craft, Marceline holds nearly 40 awards and distinctions from small town Idaho to international acclaim. Most notably, she has won first prize in the state MTNA Young Artist Competition, first prize in the ISCS Young Artist Competition, first prize in the Musicians West Piano Competition, second prize in the International Euterpe Music Awards, as well as prizes from the 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024 International Bradshaw and Buono Piano Competition, the 2021 International Medici Music Competition, and the 2021 Clara Schumann International Music Competition.

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As a lifelong learner, Marceline believes that music teaches the soul, and as long as she plays, she will be its student. This love of learning has helped her graduate Magna cum laude from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a minor in voice. She also holds Master of Music degree from Longy School of Music of Bard College. There, she was a proud scholar of Janet and Irv Plotkin, a Teaching Assistant, a Graduate fellow, and an assistant editor to The Ensemble and The World Ensemble. Marcy has studied with renowned pianists from all over the world but notes that her most important mentors include Brandon Bascom, Kori Bond, Mark Neiwirth, Wayman Chin, and Spencer Myer.

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Mrs. Merrill is passionate about preserving the great traditions in classical piano. She also believes that music and music education should be available to all. She is the founder and director of Next Golden Era, an organization dedicated to raising and distributing funds for equity-based music lesson scholarships. She also volunteers and collaborates with the New England Piano Teachers Association, the Dedham School of Music, the Volunteer Musicians Association as well as the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy.

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First Church and Parish Dedham Unitarian Universalist was gathered in 1638 and is located in Dedham Center at 670 High Street. Its lively music program includes choir at Sunday services, the Parish Players theater troupe, Friday Folk Coffeehouse, as well as our First Friday Jazz/Classical Concerts in conjunction with Dedham School of Music founded in 2008 providing an environment for people of all ages, abilities, and means to learn, play, and enjoy music.