The Brazilian clarinetist Darkson Magrinelli is pursuing a DMA degree at UNCG and is developing a research project and dissertation about the Early Choro Ensemble and its influence on the creation of the Choro genre.

Before joining the UNCG community, Magrinelli lived in Los Angeles for 6 years and studied at Azusa Pacific University where he earned his Master’s Degree and Artist Certificate with his Michele Zukovsky.

At Azusa Pacific University, Magrinelli worked as an International Recruiter and Counselor for the International Enrollment Services. Nowadays, he is a Representative for APU’s College of Music and the Arts in Brazil and is developing a project between APU and Instituto Baccarelli which is headquartered in Heliopolis – once considered the largest slum in São Paulo. Instituto Baccarelli is an association which offers community members  and other young people from Brazil outstanding musical educational opportunities. This project aims to bring together these two institutions to able to offer more opportunities for these kids and to connect students from Brazil and California.

Magrinelli played professionally in orchestras in Brazil for about 10 years before he moved to California. He was a member of the Lake Avenue Chamber Orchestra in Pasadena from 2010 to 2014. In 2011, he left his mark in the American music scene, when he received praise from visiting conductor and composer Frank Ticheli who stated that “Darkson performed one of the best performances that I have ever heard of my clarinet solo in Blue Shades.” Magrinelli won competitions and has played concertos as a soloist in Brazil and the United States. As a performer, Magrinelli has played in North/South America, and Europe as well.