Fred Marderness has been a member of The Phoenix Symphony percussion section since 1980 and artist-in-residence at the Bay View Musical Festival's eight-week summer season in northern Michigan since 1979.

Born in Reading, Penn., Marderness began his percussion studies at the age of eight. During his high school years he was active in county, district and regional band and orchestra festivals in eastern Pennsylvania. In addition, he performed with six professional concert bands and numerous jazz bands. Marderness went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees, both in percussion performance, from the University of Michigan.

Orchestras with which Marderness has performed include The National Repertory Orchestra, Flint Symphony, Toledo (Ohio) Symphony, Minnesota Opera Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He has also served on the faculties of Saint Cloud State University, College of Saint Benedict, Grand Canyon University and Interlochen's National Music Camp.

Marderness lives in Scottsdale with his wife, Jill, a bassoonist and founding member of Quintessence, and their daughter, Emily.