Biography

Hailed as a "Rising Star" by the American Guild of Organists, Cecily DeMarco is a student of Grammy Award-winning artist Paul Jacobs at The Juilliard School. She graduated with her Bachelor of Music Degree in organ performance in 2023, Master of Music Degree in 2025, and is continuing her studies there in the Artist Diploma Program under the Steve Reich Fellowship, graduating in 2027.  

Known for her sensitive, yet bold musicianship and her creative use of color, Cecily displays in her performances the ability of music to speak to the full range of the human emotional experience. Her performances have been praised as thrilling, “never letting an even slightly boring moment sneak in,” and virtuosic “ executed flawlessly and effortlessly,” and noted for displaying an ability to shape moments of great intimacy “delicately and peacefully” while also bringing works of larger scale to life with conviction and dramatic flair. 

A dedicated advocate for the arts and for the organ’s vital place within the broader artistic community, Cecily has sought to bring to the forefront the most profound works of the organ literature in addition to showing herself a skillful crafter of transcriptions. An enthusiastic collaborator, she has presented the organ in pairings with instrumentalists, vocalists, dancers, and narrators. 

Cecily has been awarded first prize in the New York City chapter of the Regional Competition for Young Organists (RCYO), as well as the Northeast Regional AGO Competition where she earned the title of “Rising Star.” Upon winning this competition, Cecily performed on a winner’s concert at the 2022 American Guild of Organists National Convention in Seattle, Washington. 

Cecily has performed at prominent venues across the United States, including The Cathedral of St. John the Divine (NYC), St. Patrick’s Cathedral (NYC), Trinity Wall St. (NYC), Riverside Church (NYC), Fifth Ave. Presbyterian Church (NYC), First Presbyterian Church Fifth Ave. (NYC), St. Vincent Ferrer (NYC), Mechanics Hall (Worchester, MA), Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), St. Andrew’s Chapel (Sanford, FL), All Saints Episcopal (Winter Park, FL) Geneva Presbyterian Church (Laguna Woods, CA) First United Methodist Church (Eugene, OR), University Congregational Church (Seattle, WA), among many others. 

In addition to her organ studies, Cecily studied composition with David Serkin Ludwig, and is currently Organ Scholar at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, NY. While not playing the organ, Cecily enjoys painting, traveling, and studying sociology and philosophy.