Noe Marmolejo

Associate Professor of Jazz

Director of Jazz Studies

Noe J. Marmolejo (Jazz, Division Head) was a graduate of William Adams High School (Bryce Taylor) and upon graduation attended Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas where he received his associate degree in music and a performers certificate. Subsequently, Mr. Marmolejo attended Southern Methodist University where he received his BM in Music Education and studied trumpet with Richard Guianguilio, former principal with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Marmolejo also attended the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he received a performers certificate.

Mr. Marmolejo returned to Houston, Texas and began his teaching career at Westchester High School in Spring Branch ISD where he directed the award-wining symphony orchestra and jazz ensemble. In 1983, he entered the formerly named University of Houston School of Music where he studied and performed duties as a teaching assistant under Mr. Eddie Green. Upon completion of his master’s degree in conducting, Mr. Marmolejo remained at the university where he was hired to lead and direct the jazz ensemble. In 1991, he received tenure at the university and continued to expand the jazz area by creating curriculum in that specific academic discipline. The Moores School of Music now has a BM with an emphasis in jazz studies.

Mr. Marmolejo is the Executive Producer of the long-running Moores School of Music Jazz Festival. This festival is presented by the MSM jazz area every February and has opened the Moores Opera House doors to high school and middle school jazz programs for over 25 years. The guest artist list is a who’s who of the jazz world including names like Joe Henderson, GeorgeColeman, Bobby Shew, Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker, Lew Soloff and Andy Martin – just to name a few.

Mr. Marmolejo is the former artistic director of the Houston Youth Symphony, the executive producer of the Texas Music Festival Jazz Institute and founder of the Texas Music Festival Jazz Project