Daphne’s Marcus Wins Emerging Leader Award

DAPHNE, Ala. — Brandon Marcus, owner and director of performing arts school The Studio in Daphne, has been honored with a national award by college senior honor society Mortar Board, Gulf Coast Media reports. The Emerging Leader Award recognizes his dedication to teaching and building resilience and confidence in his students. Marcus is one of only three recipients of the award nationwide. He began The Studio in July 2013 and has grown it to have an enrollment of more than 100 students in every area of the performing arts. Its students have appeared in local publications and national films; trained and performed throughout the U.S. and Europe; and consistently place in the top percentile of local, district, state, regional and national competitions. Last year, more than 75% of its graduates went on to major in the performing arts at college, and many received fully paid scholarships. Additionally, earlier this year, Marcus was selected as one of 14 recipients of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Joan Frey Boytim Independent Teacher Fellowship.