Director of Vocal Music Education
Associate Director of Choral Activities
Education
- Ph.D., Florida State University, Music Education
- M.M., University of Missouri - Columbia, Choral Conducting
- M.M., University of Missouri - Columbia, Vocal Performances
- B.A., Central Connecticut State University, Music Education & Vocal Performance
Teaching Specialties
- Choral Music Education
- Conducting
- Music History
- Choral Ensembles
Research Interests
- Historical Musicology
- Choral Literature
- Pre-Service Teacher Education
Affiliations
- American Choral Directors Association
- National Association of Negro Musicians
- Society of Pi Kappa Lambda
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
Biography
Dr. Marques J. Ruff is excited to begin his appointment at A-State as the Assistant Professor of Vocal Music Education/Associate Director of Choral Activities. Dr. Ruff is an international musician hailing from New England. The Hartford Courant marveled, “Ruff has a voice that has power, clarity and brilliant shades of color.” While GoldenPlec Magazine wrote, “Marques Jerrell Ruff has a voice that is powerful, acrobatic, and full of soul.” Dr. Ruff has been a featured soloist with the New World Symphony, National Chorus of Korea & Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Rogue Valley Symphony, and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra.
At the beginning of his career, Dr. Ruff was a dedicated church musician and also taught middle school choir at an arts-integrated charter school for grades 5-8 in Hartford, Connecticut. His love for choral music resulted in a four-year tenure with the Grammy Award-winning ensemble: Chanticleer. Dr. Ruff also appears on the performing rosters of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Conspirare, Exigence, and Seraphic Fire. In addition to being a bass-baritone, Dr. Ruff is also a conductor who has conducted across the country, including with the Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley, the Parkway All District Honor Choir, the Leon County Tenor/Bass Ensemble, and the Missouri Choral Artists.
Dr. Ruff is a passionate educator who is committed to the proliferation and preservation of the Negro Spiritual and Black Art music across the globe. His historical research is centered around the Negro Spiritual and its legacy and functions in today’s society. Dr. Ruff remains an in-demand presenter and has given presentations, both nationally and regionally, centering on diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging within the Choral Arts. His research interests also include methods to foster equity, collaboration, and agency within the choral classroom.
Dr. Ruff is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University, where he studied Music Education & Vocal Performance and was also the recipient of the University Singers Scholarship. He holds dual Master of Music degrees in Choral Conducting and Voice Performance from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and also a Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis in Choral Conducting from Florida State University. Dr. Ruff is a proud member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association of Negro Musicians, the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
