Nic Marshall ('25) is a Business Mind with a Musical Ear

Magnuson Theatre was met with a full house as Gonzaga University debuted its sold-out showing of “Thumbelina” this winter. The original ballet production, created and choreographed by Dance Department Founding Chair Suzanne Ostersmith, was paired with an original score composed by recent Gonzaga graduate Nic Marshall (’25).

Featuring University dance students alongside youth dancers from local Spokane studios, the production united families, faculty, students, and community members in a shared celebration of the arts. This brand-new retelling of a classic story made for a powerful performance.

“The success of ‘Thumbelina’ can be attributed to many things,” Ostersmith said in an email, including the fact that it is a heartwarming classic performed during the cold winter, brought to life by local and university dancers and their proud families, and anchored by equally powerful music.

She described how Marshall’s compositions helped shape the choreography itself.

From my seat in the audience, I watched as the music and choreography worked seamlessly together to draw viewers into the world of “Thumbelina.” Marshall’s compositions captured the emotional depth of the story while maintaining a sense of lightness and playfulness. The interplay between movement and music made the narrative clear, as if the dancers and score were engaged in a conversation of their own without dialogue.

Composer Marshall grew up around and with music. In high school he helped run a music club, where he learned how to write compositions for different instruments. After being self-taught for years, he began taking composition classes during his senior year at Gonzaga with Michael Kropf, an assistant professor in Gonzaga’s music department who has been a mentor and friend. Before graduating last May, Marshall was recommended for the collaboration with Ostersmith by Kropf. Though he now works in marketing with a degree in business, Marshall continues to nurture his passion for music, and his connection to Gonzaga through this project of “Thumbelina.”

When asked about his creative process, Marshall explained that, “Writing the music for this show was the first time I had ever tried to tell a story with my music and honestly, I struggled with it at first.” Composing for this production required Marshall to shift from creating abstract musical ideas, to intentionally writing music to serve a clear narrative. Through this process, he was able to transform narrative ideas and themes into a cohesive, story-driven score.

During the cold winter, Gonzaga’s "Thumbelina" offered warmth, community, and creativity to the audience through this collaboration.