Profile

Marcía (mar-see-ah) Hocker earned a Third-Class FCC License in her hometown of NYC. She is a lifelong devotee of Jazz from early childhood and has been serving and celebrating the Jazz community in significant ways in Portland, Oregon and beyond for almost three decades.

She is a singer/actor who has performed in the U.S. and overseas while accompanying her husband on Diplomatic assignments at the U.S. Embassies in Bogota, Colombia and Wellington, New Zealand.

Currently serving on the Montavilla Jazz Festival Board, her behind-the-scenes as well as on-stage roles in the city’s Jazz spheres represents the epitome of passion and dedication. As a volunteer radio host for 12 years previously with KMHD Jazz Radio, she also served as liaison to station management for 63 volunteers garnering the Jan Henderson Leadership Award from (OPB) Oregon Public Broadcasting Radio and Television.

While serving as a member of the PDX Jazz Festival Board of Directors for 8 years on multiple committees, her responsibilities included Emcee, Community Engagement, and Education Chair, coordinating, and performing in the Incredible Journey of Jazz program presented to over 15,000 students.

Her many interviews of artists and educators both locally and beyond continues to shed light on those who invest in this treasured American art form that promotes diversity, respect for human dignity and freedom of expression. Marcia considers it a privilege and honor to participate whenever she can. Portland State University Jazz Professor, musician, and recording artist Darrell Grant describes her as “…all things jazz!”