Will Marsh developed a deep curiosity about music at a young age. He was drawn to sounds from around the world and his early fascination with global music played a significant role in shaping his artistic path.
"It feels like sitar found me more than I found sitar," said Marsh, who studied guitar at Interlochen Arts Academy in high school and world music at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) as an undergraduate.
Marsh first encountered the instrument when he was playing in an Indian music ensemble at CalArts.
"The music captivated me," he said. "At first I was scared to even pick up a sitar, but when I did, it felt right."
Although playing the instrument is very challenging and takes years to master, Marsh said the hardest part isn't actually the music - it's the sitting.
Sitar players sit cross-legged for three or four hours at a time while they play.
Playing the instrument also requires physical strength and technique developed over years of practice.
For example, bending pitches means using one's finger to pull on steel wires that have 40 pounds of pressure, which creates well-developed calluses over time.
Marsh regularly practices yoga and exercises to be able to keep up with the physical demands of playing the sitar.
"I feel like I'm a healthier person because of how I need to show up to play this instrument," he said.
Marsh visited Studio A along with members of The Integration Ensemble, including cellist Crispin Campbell and tabla player Josh Mellinger.
Saxophonist Patrick Booth will also perform with the ensemble this weekend.
Playing with this particular configuration of musicians in northern Michigan is a homecoming of sorts for Marsh.
Percussionist Josh Mellinger is also a Traverse City native and Interlochen Arts Academy alum, and cellist Crispin Campbell retired from Interlochen Arts Academy's faculty and maintains and active performing schedule.
Marsh and Mellinger have been playing music together since they were teenagers in Traverse City, starting out in cover bands and moving on to playing together as students both at Interlochen Arts Academy and CalArts.
As a teen, Marsh was also a great admirer of Campbell's music and musicianship, frequently attending his Neptune Quartet concerts.
"It feels like a full circle, coming back to the place I started with people who were a part of that experience," Marsh said.
The name and concept of "integration" refers to how Marsh felt he had to bring different parts of his musicianship together.
"For a long time, I felt like I was two different artists: Will Marsh the classical sitar player and Will Marsh the guitar player," he said. "So I started thinking about how I can bring these parts of myself together to say what only I can say. The name 'Integration' is about me trying to integrate all these parts of my musical journey in a way that feels natural."
Listen to the full Studio A session with Will Marsh and the Integration Ensemble by clicking "Listen" above or in your preferred podcast app.
Will Marsh and The Integration Ensemble will perform Saturday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. at The Alluvion in Traverse City and Sunday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. at the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort.
This edition of Studio A was engineered by Michael Culler.
