For over twenty years, Lee Marcum has established a reputation of musical excellence in Nashville’s music industry. As an alumnus of the prestigious University of North Texas, Lee’s diverse musical training in composition, arranging, and orchestrating has enabled him to develop a successful freelance career in Music City. Whether it’s a lush string arrangement, a sizzling hot brass chart, tight vocal harmonies, or even lending his own “chops” for a live trumpet performance, Lee completes every musical project with the utmost passion for detail, quality, and excellence. His high standards are consistent across all platforms, whether it’s music for a studio recording or live performance. Clients of Lee Marcum Music have returned for multiple projects, knowing they can rely on and trust his level of musicianship.

 Lee’s musical interests began at an early age, as the Marcum home was always filled with music. His father was a minister of music, while his mother played piano and was a member of the church choir. Lee’s father began teaching him piano, and when Lee first picked up his brother’s cornet and showed a natural inclination for playing the horn, his father immediately started cornet instruction with him. Soon after, Lee joined the church orchestra under his father’s direction. During this time, Lee’s God-given talents flourished as he began to play music by ear, and even wrote his first orchestration for the church instrumentalists—at the age of twelve!

 While continuing to hone his piano and trumpet playing skills as a teenager, he developed a deeper curiosity for analyzing recordings; transcribing choir and instrumental music. With this proclivity for musical details was birthed his desire to compose, arrange, and learn to write more advanced orchestrations.

 Lee furthered his musical education at Auburn University, where he played trumpet in the marching band, concert band, brass choir, and jazz ensemble. Upon graduating from Auburn with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, Lee completed his Masters degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging from the highly acclaimed University of North Texas. While attending UNT, Lee’s compositions were featured by the Zebras and the premier One O’Clock Lab Band through live performance and studio recordings.  

 Making Nashville his new home, Lee’s music career began in the Distribution department of Word Entertainment. Lee immersed himself in the Nashville music scene, as well, playing trumpet for several jazz orchestras, while also seeking out new clients and work-for-hire arranging/orchestration projects. Over the next few years, Lee was blessed with multiple promotions at Word Entertainment. As Music Editor for Word Music, Lee had the opportunity to edit several vocal collections, anthems, and orchestrations. He soon became the Instrumental Editor, being responsible for oversight of the final production and editing of all orchestrations for Word Music. He was blessed to also serve in the role of Executive Producer, assisting in recording sessions with some of the industry’s finest arrangers and orchestrators. In addition, Lee has received multiple editorial credits to his name, including collections such as “More Songs for Praise and Worship,” and “Hymns for Worship and Celebration.”

In 2010, Lee was able to fulfill his dream of transitioning into full-time freelance employment. As his client base continued to build each year, Lee was able to start his own business to provide music services such as arranging and orchestrating. He continues to serve as the Instrumental Editor for Word Music, as well, on a project basis.

 Throughout his career in Nashville, Lee has shared the studio or live performances with several of the Christian music industry’s most talented producers, including David T. Clydesdale, Steven V. Taylor, Lari Goss, Robert Sterling, Ron Blount, Marty Parks, Camp Kirkland, Ken Barker, Mark McClure, David Shipps, Don Koch, Phillip Keveren, Gary Rhodes, Jim Gray, John E. Coates, Tom Fettke, Luke Gambill and Bradley Knight. Lee has also written orchestrations for studio and live performance for the famed “Nashville String Machine,” America’s premier recording orchestra.

 Several of Lee’s orchestrations have been published with Christian music publishers including Word Music, Capitol Christian Music Group, Lifeway Music, Praisecharts, Prism Music, and Celebrating Grace.  Lee has also provided custom arrangements and orchestrations for churches such as Christ Church Nashville, World Outreach Church (Murfreesboro), First Assembly Memphis, and Valley View Baptist (Louisville, KY).

Lee and his wife Holly reside in Spring Hill, TN, and are active members of Christ Church Nashville. Lee plays trumpet in the praise band and Holly is a member of the choir. Holly assists Lee with music projects, and together they have a music ministry (Holly Lynn Music) and serve many churches throughout several states.