Markus was trained as a classical pianist in Germany before studying jazz on a scholarship at Berklee College of Music. In addition, he earned a Master’s degree in choral conducting from the Boston Conservatory. He also completed the three-year Music Leadership Certification program administered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in collaboration with the Association of Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM).
Markus has conducted big bands, vocal ensembles, orchestras, rock groups, jazz combos, and over 80 musical theater productions, including a national tour of Irving Berlin’s I Love A Piano. He has also lived in four countries, figured out the meaning of life, played keytar in a rock group while dressed in a neon pink jumpsuit, co-founded an opera company, and released two CDs of his piano compositions; his music has been featured on nationally syndicated German network radio and on the album le classique abstrait, published worldwide by Universal Music.
Markus has been serving the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair since 2012. He believes in the power of communal singing, dismantling white supremacy, and smashing the patriarchy.
Blog
Sermons
Winning the War
April 14, 2024"Winning the War"— led by the Rev Seth Fisher of First Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County. We seem to be surrounded by conflict. How do we win?
Whose Promised Land?
April 7, 2024The biblical scriptures are complex and often conflictual. They speak about war as often as they speak about peace. In this service we look at the concept of a "Promised Land" with reference to the current and historical strife in the land of Israel and Palestine, asking "whose promised land is it?"
Resurrecting Hope
March 31, 2024"Resurrecting Hope"— led by the Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael, senior co-minister. Easter - the Rev. Scott and the team lead a multi-generational service focused on liberation and hope.