Biography

Marco Ullstein is a jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer with roots in Germany and Italy. He grew up in Munich, Germany, where he studied classical percussion at the University of Performing Arts Munich before deciding to focus on jazz vibraphone. He then moved to The Hague to continue his studies in jazz music. As a classical percussionist, Marco participated in several competitions and went on concert tours to Italy, Egypt, and Oman as a member of different orchestras, including the Munich String and Percussion Ensemble, as well as performing as a solo percussionist. Notably, he won first prize at ‘Jugend Musiziert’ in the category Solo Percussion. 

Since 2020, Marco has been continuously developing his career and musicianship through collaborations and new projects, establishing himself in the jazz scene of The Netherlands. In March 2023, he was selected as a member of the Medinea network and participated in the Medinea session in Ljubljana, an international and intercultural musical two-week residency. In the summer of 2023, he reached the finals of the ‘Concorso Massimo Urbani’ for Jazz Soloists in Camerino, Italy. 

With his current project, the Marco Ullstein Quintet, he realizes his musical vision in his compositions and live performances. The quintet has achieved several successes and prizes at different competitions and festivals, including first prizes at the Grachtenfestival Jazz Competition in Amsterdam, Heerlen Jazz Competition, Fara Music Competition (IT), Barga Jazz Competition (IT), and the audience award at Concorso Bettinardi (IT). They have performed at renowned stages such as Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, Jazzboz Festival, and Umbria Jazz Festival. In February 2024, they were selected for the Keep an Eye livestream at Studio 150 Amsterdam. In August 2024 they released their debut album ‘Detached Views’ which has been well received in the dutch press and during their NL release tour. 

In September 2024, Marco started his Master in Jazz Vibraphone at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. 

With his new project Calima, he won 1st prize at the Keep an Eye international Jazz Award 2025 in Amsterdam and performed in Bimhuis, Amsterdam in May 2025.