Gene Markiewicz

Gene Markiewicz

(March 5, 1957 - Present)

Gene Markiewicz is one of Indianapolis most established drummers, having performed with many of the area’s finest musicians and organizations including Jim Edison, Al Cobine, The Buselli/ Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Bill Lancton, Becky Archibald, Steve Robinette, Mark Radway, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and many other groups and ensembles. He has co-led the award-winning Carter/Markiewicz Jazz Quartet with the late jazz legend Chuck Carter as well as the Farrelly/Markiewicz Jazz Quartet. He performs with his ensemble The Gene Markiewicz Band!

Gene attended Indiana Wesleyan University and is a graduate of Marian University.  A strong advocate for public education, he has been an elementary classroom teacher in the Indianapolis Public Schools for many years.  As a jazz educator, he is one of the judge/educators for the annual Purdue Jazz Festival. He has also been a regular clinician at the Pendleton Heights Jazz competition and has been a faculty member of the University of Indianapolis Jazz Combo Camp.  He has been involved with several community programs including President and Education Committee Chair for the Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation/Indy Jazz Fest. Along with Connie Harris and the Speedway Chamber of Commerce, Gene has organized many successful years of Jazz Fest in Speedway, as part of Indy Jazz Fest held annually.  He has been an Artist/Clinician for the Ludwig Drum Company since 1999. 

As Gene is quoted as saying in an article in Modern Drummer, “When I saw Ringo on TV as a kid, I knew I wanted to be a drummer. My mom always supported me. Don’t get me wrong, she would remind me about being able to support myself, but she always had my back.”