Taylor Marino
Principal Clarinet
The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair
Taylor Marino joined the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra as Principal Clarinet in 2019. A Charlotte native, he is honored to perform in his hometown, where he played in the city's youth orchestras. Before returning, he served as Principal Clarinetist of the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans.
He has also performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh, Houston, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Baltimore symphonies, the North Carolina Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Marino has appeared twice as concerto soloist with the Charlotte Symphony, and as a soloist and concerto competition winner at both the Brevard and Aspen music festivals. He was grand-prize winner of the 2014 Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition and a first-prize winner in California's Pasadena Showcase Competition.
In summer, Marino serves as Principal Clarinet of the Bellingham Festival of Music. He has also taken part in many of the world's leading summer festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Center, where he received the Gino B. Cioffi Memorial Prize; the Aspen Music Festival as an AACA Fellow; the Pacific Music Festival in Japan; Music Academy of the West; Spoleto Festival USA; the Mostly Mozart All-Star Orchestra; the Britt Music Festival; and the Brevard Music Festival.
Marino graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and holds a bachelor's degree from the Manhattan School of Music, studying with Mark Nuccio, and a master's degree and professional studies certificate from the Colburn Conservatory, under Yehuda Gilad.
Beyond the concert hall, Marino is a licensed real estate agent in North and South Carolina and owner of his own brokerage, Maestro Realty Group, helping many families buy and sell in the Charlotte area. A passionate oenophile, he holds the Certified Sommelier credential from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines.
What piece made you fall in love with music?
I've never had one defining piece. For me, the magic is that the love keeps renewing itself — whatever we're playing on a given night has a way of pulling me back in. That's the part I cherish most.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
For me, it all comes back to the breath — staying present and grounded in the moment. That's when the best music happens: when you're fully present and spontaneous, taking calculated risks in real time.
What do you hope audiences feel during a performance?
Magic — and the full gamut of emotion. I want them to feel everything the music has to offer.
