| Dr. Brian Norcross has been Instrumental Conductor at Franklin & Marshall College since 1986. He directs the F&M Orchestra, F&M Philharmonia, and Symphonic Wind Ensemble; in addition, he administers the Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Music Society, and he teaches conducting. A champion of new music, he has directed over 50 premiere performances with various ensembles. In addition to his duties at Franklin & Marshall, he is also the Director of Music at the First United Methodist Church in Lancaster, where he directs the Chancel Choir and administers eight other choirs.
Dr. Norcross is also the artistic director of Allegro, the Chamber Orchestra of Lancaster. Allegro is a professional ensemble, specializing in music of the 17th and 18th century performed with an exciting 21st century twist. Allegro performs the second Saturday of every summer month in the Barshinger Center for Musical Arts at Franklin & Marshall College.
Dr. Norcross is an active guest conductor and clinician in Pennsylvania and Maryland. His most recent conducting appearances include OperaLancaster (PA), PMEA District 7 Orchestra, the Lancaster County Youth Symphony (PA), Cecil County (MD) High School Band, Grant Street Dance Company (Lancaster, PA), Old York Road Symphony Orchestra (Jenkintown, PA), Bucks County (PA) Band and the Winds of the Susquehanna (Lancaster, PA). He has also arranged and conducted eight benefit concerts for the Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired, "Beethoven to Big Band," "Brahms to Broadway", "Surprise, Spring and Farewell", "Gershwin to Gospel", "Mozart to the Movies", "New World to Lord of the Rings", "Prokofiev to Puccini", and "I'll Take the Fifth". He has a number of publications including a book, titled "One Band that Took a Chance." Dr. Norcross is the recipient of the Massachusetts Music Educators Lowell Mason award for outstanding contributions to the field of music education. In 2004 the Franklin & Marshall senior class voted him "Most Influential Professor" in the Arts and Humanities.
He received his doctorate, with distinction, from The Catholic University of America in Washington DC; his master's degree, with performance and academic honors from New England Conservatory in Boston, MA; and his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA.
He and his wife Kim are active volunteers in their local school district and have four children.
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