Marc Harroo

Marc Harroo is a Trinbagonian Violinist, Educator and Composer based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Prior to moving to the United States in 2020, he served as the concertmaster for the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago, and maintained an active presence as a chamber musician, soloist, and educator. Currently, he serves as the Director of Youth Education for the Lakes Area Music Festival, and holds a section violin position with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (2023 -). In his personal life, Marc enjoys visiting theme parks, trying new restaurants and spending time with his wife and dogs.

Marc J. H. Harroo is an accomplished violinist, educator, and composer whose multifaceted career in music education and performance spans more than a decade. Currently, he serves as the Director of Youth Education for the Lakes Area Music Festival (2024–present) and as a violinist with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (2022–present). ​Marc began studying the violin at the age of three through a Suzuki program hosted by the St. Augustine Chamber Orchestra (SACO) in Trinidad and Tobago. At age seven, he earned a position in SACO's advanced youth orchestra and continued his studies with Kenneth Listhrop, Heemath Jahoor, and Pablo Hernandez through the organization's partnership with El Sistema.

Throughout his youth, he maintained an active career as a soloist and chamber musician while participating in multiple international tours with the Trinidad and Tobago Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. At age 17, he was appointed as the Concertmaster of a pilot project, which would later become the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago (NPO). During his time with the NPO, Marc was mentored by Dr. Roger Henry in orchestral management, artistic direction, and community outreach. His experience coordinating government events and leading outreach initiatives helped shape the collaborative leadership style that continues to inform his educational work today.​

Academically, Marc earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of the West Indies and an Artist Diploma from the Academy of Performing Arts at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, where he studied with Eleanor Ryan and Simon Browne. During this period, he spent an extensive amount of time as an arranger, composer, and conductor after stepping away from violin performance. By this point, he had spent eight years maintaining a private violin and viola studio, where he developed a deep interest in performance psychology, pedagogy, and student motivation.​These interests ultimately led him to pursue a Master of Music Education.

Through a unique series of events—most notably the COVID-19 pandemic—he relocated to Minnesota in 2020 to begin graduate studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD).While at UMD, Marc studied violin with Rudy Perrault and completed his graduate research under the guidance of Dr. Jian-Jun Chen-Edmund. Through their mentorship, he continued exploring interdisciplinary and alternative approaches to music education. This work culminated in a presentation at the 2022 Minnesota Music Educators Association Conference, where he shared his research examining the relationship between personality traits and pedagogical approaches.​

As Orchestra Director at Marshall School in Duluth (2022–2024), Marc revitalized the school's string program, introduced a student mentorship system, and championed accessibility and community through a variety of student-centered initiatives. These efforts built upon his earlier work as a teaching artist with the Trinidad and Tobago Youth Philharmonic and Guardians of Sound Inc., experiences he credits with shaping his philosophy of inspiring young musicians.​Marc's current roles represent the culmination of these experiences, allowing him to nurture the next generation of musicians while continuing to contribute to the broader musical community as a performer, educator, composer, and advocate for the arts.