Teacher: Marcus Porter

Art allows the mind to break the mold of the world, we’re all filled with different thoughts and ideas for what life is and how it is taught.
Marcus Porter
PMA Music Teaching Artist

Marcus Porter is from Madison, Wisconsin, and attended the Madison Media Institute (MMI), where he studied audio engineering techniques, media production, and business management. While at MMI, he was influenced by instructors who worked with artists such as Cris Vrenna, Cee-Lo, Marlyn Manson, Taylor Swift, and 2Pac. 

Marcus has worked with youth within the Madison School & Community Recreation program and directs music recording programs for the Sun Prairie Area School District t. He was formerly a lead engineer at Oddly Arranged Media in Madison, and currently, he runs the Madison-based music studio Born To Dream. In addition to heading the Prairie Music & Arts music production program, he directs sound for The Moth in Madison. In 2022, was nominated for a Madison Area Music Award for best-performing hip-hop artist and has performed for the Festival Foods Lights The Isthmus annual event at Breese Stevens Field. See more of Marcus’ work here.

These experiences have prepared Marcus for life and what it can throw his way. In his words, “Working in music has shown me that art is crucial and can be critical to education. I’ve learned that with art, you can learn many different concepts by being creative. My goal as an educator is to show students and creatives that your art can teach others, even while you are still learning.” Outside of music and art, Marcus loves hanging out with family, and his one-year-old and wife keep him going.