Hailing from Far North Queensland, Marcus Corowa has established himself as one of the country’s most in-demand talents, carving out a vibrant decade-long career that spans performance, mentoring and advocacy.

As performer, Marcus has captured the hearts of Australia with his soulful voice and charming stage presence. Career highlights include the Australian premiere of Broadway blockbuster Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Winner: Best Musical, Helpmann Awards 2018); The Little Red Company’s Your Song (Winner: Best Musical or Cabaret, Matilda Awards 2021); Opera Queensland’s Festival of Outback Opera; Opera Australia’s Bran Nue Dae; Belvoir’s Barbara and The Camp Dogs; and Sydney Theatre Company’s The Secret River, including its 2019 UK tour.

A regular guest vocalist and festival headliner, Marcus has performed alongside some of Australia’s top musical talents including Toni Childs, Vika & Linda Bull, James Reyne, Christine Anu and Marcia Hines. Additional performance highlights include the 2021 Brisbane City Council Lord Mayors Christmas Carols, the 2019 Helpmann Awards and guest vocalist for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra at The National Centre for Indigenous Excellence Reconciliation Action Week.

Marcus’ recent stage highlights include; Do We Need Another Hero ( Opera Queensland), The Visitors (Victorian Opera), There’s Something about Music (The Little Red Company) and the hit musical The Sunshine Club ( QPAC and Queensland Theatre Company) written and directed by Australian theatre luminary Wesley Enoch. Marcus is currently touring Are You Lonesome Tonight with Opera Queensland.

Marcus is also an established and devoted mentor and leader, drawing on his Aboriginal and South Sea Islander heritage and pride to advocate for greater diversity and inclusion within the creative industries.

A past Ambassador for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence and participant in the British Council for the Arts’ Accelerate Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artistic leaders, Marcus is passionate about using his voice and profile to mentor and inspire young Australians.

AWARDS

APRA AWARDS – Winner – Smugglers of Light Foundation Music and Media Award (2015)

THE DEADLY AWARDS – Winner – Most Promising New Talent in Music (2012)

THEATRE

DO WE NEED ANOTHER HERO
Dir: Laura Hansford| Opera Queensland, 2024
THE VISITORS
Dir: Isaac Drandic| Victorian Opera, 2023
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MUSIC
Dir. Naomi Price | The Little Red Company, 2023
THE LADY SINGS THE MAROONS
Dir: Laura Hansford| Opera Queensland, 2023
BEAUTIFUL: CAROL KING THE MUSICAL
Dir: Johanna Allen| Matt Ward Productions, 2023
THE SUNSHINE CLUB
Dir: Wesley Enoch | Queensland Theatre Company, 2022
YOUR SONG
Dir: Naomi Price | The Little Red Company, 2022
ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT
Dir: Laura Hansford | Opera Queensland, 2021
BRAN NUE DAY
Dir: Andrew Ross | Opera Australia, 2020
BARBARA AND THE CAMP DOGS
Dir: Letitia Caceres | Belvoir, 2019
THE SECRET RIVER UK TOUR
Dir: Neil Armfield | Sydney Theatre Company, 2019
SONG FOR THE MARDOOWARRA (EU TOUR)
Dir: Gwen Knox | Big Mama Productions, 2019
YEKKAMUNDIE PLAYWRIGHTING FESTIVAL
Dir: Various | Moogahlin Performing Arts, 2019
BEAUTIFUL: CAROL KING THE MUSICAL
Dir: Marc Bruni | Michael Cassel Group, 2018
THE SECRET RIVER (UK TOUR)
Dir: Neil Armfield | Sydney Theatre Company, 2017
PECAN SUMMER
Dir: Cameron Menzies | Short Black Opera, 2016
THE RABBITS
Dir: John Sheedy | Opera Australia, 2015
BEHIND THE CANE
Dir: Sean Mee | Queensland Music Festival, 2015

MUSIC

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Performer | Queensland Performing Arts Centre, 2023
SYDNEY STREETS
Performer | City of Sydney, 2023
SANTOS GLNG MAYORS CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Performer | Gladstone Ports Corporation’s Marina Parklands Main Stage, 2023
THE KENNEDY FOUNDATION ANNUAL GALA AWARDS
Performer |Royal Randwick Ballroom, 2023
NOEL NOEL
Performer | The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, 2022
FESTIVAL OF OUTBACK OPERA
Performer | Opera Queensland, 2022
TOURISM AUSTRALIA
Performer | Corporate Performance, 2022
INDIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY
Performer Residency | 2022
LINKEDIN AND TEDX
Performer | Corporate Performance, 2022
LORD MAYORS CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Performer | Brisbane City Council 2021
NAIDOC IN THE CITY
Performer | City of Sydney, 2021
HELPMAN AWARDS
Performer | The Arts Centre Melbourne, 2019
PSEUDO ECHO
Support Act | Various Locations, 2017
TJUNGU FESTIVAL
Performer | Uluru, 2016
JUST THE TWO OF US: SONGS OF BILL WITHERS WITH MARCUS COROWA
Performer | Awaye, ABC Radio National, 2016
AFTER HOURS
Performer | Art Gallery of NSW, 2015
MARIE BASHIR FAREWELL MUSICAL TRIBUTE
Performer | The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, 2014
NCIE NAIDOC COLLABORATION
Performer | The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, 2014
TONI CHILDS
Support Act | Various Locations, 2013
AWME AUSTRALASIAN WOLRD MUSIC EXPO
Performer | Arts Centre Melbourne, 2013
COBARGO FOLK FESTIVAL
Performer | Cobargo Showground, 2013
NERANG BLUES AND FOLK FESTIVAL
Performer | Nerang, Queensland, 2013
HAMILTON ISLAND RESORT
Residency | Performer  Hamilton Island, 2013
VIKA AND LINDA BULL
Support Act | Various Locations, 2013
JAMES REYNE
Support Act | Various Locations, 2013
CHRISTINE ANU
Support Act | Various Locations, 2012
SALES IN THE DESERT
Residency Performer | Uluru, 2012
MARCIA HINES
Support Act | Various Locations, 2012
MARK SEYMOUR
Support Act | Various Locations, 2012
FUSE FESTIVAL
Performer | Adelaide Fringe, 2012
YABUN FESTIVAL
Performer | Victoria Park, Sydney, 2012

SONG WRITING

COMPOSED IN QUEENSLAND
Composer | Opera Queensland, 2022
RESONATE SONGWRITING WORKSHOP
Song Writer | APRA, 2022
MUGU KIDS TELEVISION SERIES
Composer | Maling Productions, 2016
WATER AND AIR – EP
Original Music Released | Independent Release, 2016
THE GREATER YOU – EP
Original Music Released | Gadigal Music, 2012

PRESENTING

GUWANYI WALAMA
Presenter | Sydney Opera House Digital Tours, 2019
CLOUDED HISTORY DOCUMENTARY
Presenter | No Coincidence Media, 2015

PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

SHUTDOWN ARTIST RESIDENCE
Artist | Belvoir Theatre, 2020
IETM SPRING PLENARY MEETING (UK)
Artist | Australia Council for the Arts, 2019
FUNDING RECIPIENT INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
Artist | Australia Council for the Arts, 2017
INNOVATION LAB
Artist | Australia Council for the Arts, 2017
ACCELERATE PROGRAM
Artist | British Council for the Arts, 2015

MENTORSHIP

SOLID GROUND MENTORING PROGRAM
Mentor | Carriageworks, 2022
SOLID GROUND MENTORING PROGRAM
Mentor | Carriageworks, 2019
AIME YOUTH MENTORING
Mentor | Virgin Australia, 2015
YOUNG BLACK AND DEADLY WORKSHOPS
Mentor | Gadigal Music, 2015
VIBE 3 ON 3 WORKSHOPS
Mentor | Vibe Australia, 2015
AMBASSADOR
Ambassador | National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, 2012