Quick Facts
Biography
Marcia Butler (born January 5th, 1955) is an American writer. She is the author of the nationally acclaimed memoir The Skin Above My Knee (2017). Prior to her writing career, she was a professional oboist in New York City for 28 years until her retirement in 2008, then an interior designer.
Early life and education
Butler grew up in Massachusetts and New York. She attended the Mannes College of Music on a full scholarship.
Music
Since 1978, Butler performed as principal oboist and soloist on many New York and international stages. Her collaborators include pianist Andre Watts, composer and pianist Keith Jarrett and soprano Dawn Upshaw. She was the only American to be invited to perform Elliot Carter's Oboe Concerto.
Interior Design
Butler started her interior design firm in 2002. For her design work, she was featured in Design Bureau Magazine, on Apartment Therapy’s The Kitchn, and in Gourmet Business Magazine. She received of the Design Excellence Award from the International Interior Design Association in 2005.
Writing
Butler's debut memoir The Skin Above My Knee was published by Little, Brown and Company in 2017. The memoir chronicles the difficulties of her childhood, subsequent musical education, and coming-of-age as a musician in New York City. She has published essays on similar themes on Psychology Today and Literary Hub. She was the Writer-in-Residence through Aspen Words and the Catto Shaw Foundation in 2015.