Today we’d like to introduce you to Devin Marsh.
Devin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My path has always lived at the intersection of creativity, education, and community. I began in music, studying vibraphone at Berklee College of Music, performing, producing, and exploring the foundations of sound and storytelling. I continued my journey at the University of Miami, where I earned my education degree while performing, producing, and composing with my band Nori Nori. That period shaped both my artistic identity and my belief in the power of teaching and mentorship.
I went on to earn my Doctor of Musical Arts and spent years working as a musician and composer, contributing to films, albums, and creative projects that deepened my understanding of how stories can move people.
As time passed, I realized that the work that inspired me most was helping young people discover their voices. That realization pulled me fully into education and eventually into building student media programs. Today I serve as Director of Television and Film Production at Miami Arts Studio and as Co-Founder of the After School Film Institute. In these roles I mentor the next generation of filmmakers, journalists, and creators, many of whom come from communities that rarely see themselves represented in this industry.
My journey has also included service on statewide and national boards, collaborations with film commissioners, and guiding student work into major festivals and competitions. Travel has played a huge role as well. Whether I am exploring other cultures or connecting with students from a remote location, I bring those global experiences back to the classroom to encourage an explorer mindset and a wider view of the world.
At the center of everything is a simple mission. I want to open doors for young storytellers, give them real opportunities, and show them that their perspectives matter. That mission is what brought me to where I am today and it continues to guide my work every day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been meaningful, but it has not always been easy. Creative work and education both come with challenges, and I have faced my share of moments that required patience, grit, and a belief in the long game. Early in my career, balancing the demands of performing, composing, and teaching was difficult. I was trying to grow as an artist while also learning how to guide young people who were placing their trust in me. There were times when resources were limited, or when I had to build programs from the ground up with very little support. When I started teaching elementary school, all I had was a tambourine until I proved myself. Over the years I have built studios for my students by asking my community for equipment, building sets, bringing in my own gear, and finding creative ways to make things happen.
Working with underserved communities has also opened my eyes to how uneven access to opportunity can be. I have met students with extraordinary talent who had never been given the opportunities they deserve, never traveled outside their neighborhood, and never been told that they could have a place in this industry. Fighting for funding, advocating for their needs, and creating spaces where they feel seen requires constant effort.
There were moments of doubt as well. Changing careers, shifting from music into filmmaking and broadcast education, and eventually taking on leadership roles all involved risk. I had to trust that my experiences in music, creativity, and storytelling would translate into something larger than myself.
Even with the challenges, every obstacle helped shape my philosophy as a teacher and mentor. The struggles pushed me to innovate, to build partnerships, to travel widely, and to stay focused on opening doors that might not have existed before. Those moments of difficulty have become the fuel for what I do now, and they constantly remind me why this work matters.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work sits at the intersection of education, visual media, and artistic endeavors. Every day I work with students who are learning how to use their voices, shape narratives, and tell stories that matter.
I specialize in building programs that feel like real working studios. I design environments where students are not just completing assignments but producing work that can stand alongside professional projects. I am known for pushing students to rise to a high standard while still making the classroom feel like a place where they belong and can take creative risks.
I am most proud of the opportunities I have helped create. I have watched students who began with no experience win state and national awards, travel to festivals, earn scholarships, and enter top film programs. I have seen students who never believed they had a future in media discover a passion that changes their entire trajectory. Knowing that these doors opened because someone invested in them is the greatest reward.
What sets me apart is the way I bring my background in music, global travel, and storytelling into the classroom. My philosophy is grounded in real world experience. I have composed for films, toured with bands, collaborated with commissioners, and traveled across the world in ways that constantly expand my understanding of culture and narrative. I use all of that to help students see beyond the walls of their school and imagine a wider world of possibility.
I also believe deeply in community. My programs are built on partnerships, shared resources, and a belief that creative education should be accessible to every student, not only to the ones who already have advantages. I work to make sure they feel seen, supported, and capable of producing work that reflects who they are.
At the end of the day, my work is about impact. I want students to walk away knowing that their voice matters, their story matters, and their future can be bigger than anything they imagined when they first walked into my classroom. Their specific area of study does not define the field they must enter. The skills they learn in my programs are transferable to real life, helping them grow into the strongest and most thoughtful humans they can be.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone who is just beginning, it would be to stay curious and stay open. You do not have to have everything figured out at the start. Your path will twist, shift, and surprise you, and that is part of the beauty of a creative life. Always be willing to pivot. The ability to adjust, try something new, or move in a direction you did not expect can open doors you never knew existed.
Be open to other ideas and other perspectives, even when they challenge you. Growth happens when you are willing to listen, explore, and step outside your comfort zone.
I also encourage people to say yes to opportunities, even the small ones. My entire career was shaped by moments that did not look big at first. A rehearsal, a student project, a chance to help someone, a trip I almost did not take. Every experience added another piece to the puzzle and slowly revealed what my purpose could be.
Find someone who is doing what you want to do and learn from them. Mentorship is one of the most powerful tools you can have. Watch how they work, ask questions, and take in everything you can. The right role model can shorten your learning curve and give you confidence when you need it most.
Another important lesson is to trust your voice and your instincts. When you begin, it is easy to compare yourself to others or feel like you have to fit into a certain mold. What makes you different is exactly what you should lean into. Your background, your culture, your interests, your story. That is where the real power is.
I wish I had known earlier that it is completely normal to fail, to doubt yourself, and to feel overwhelmed. None of those moments mean you are on the wrong path. They mean you are growing. The key is to keep showing up, keep learning, and keep moving forward. Never stop learning. The second you think you have it all figured out is the moment you stop evolving.
And finally, surround yourself with people who believe in you and push you to be better. Community matters. Mentorship matters. Collaboration matters. No one builds a creative life alone. Find people who inspire you and people you can lift up in return.
If you can stay curious, stay humble, stay flexible, and stay committed, you will be amazed at what you can create and who you can become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ASFIMiami.org
- Instagram: ASFIFilms
- Facebook: ASFIFilms
- Youtube: @afterschoolfilminstitutein503
- Other: https://www.miamiartsstudio612.com/broadcasting, https://masmedia.eduvision.tv/Default.aspx
