Until four years ago, Marcus Barnes didn't care about music. Neither did his parents.

Then, starting in fourth grade, Marcus found himself spending every spare moment playing an instrument and composing.

On Friday night, the Granite City community heard the latest work of the Grigsby eighth-grade musical phenom. The Grigsby Middle School Band performed his composition "The Triumph of God" at the All-District Holiday Band Concert in the Granite City High School Gym.

The composition, which has parts for 23 different instruments and a conductor's score, and is just short of six minutes, is a huge accomplishment for someone his age, said Grigsby Band Director Dennis Meyer.

"Isn't that pretty amazing for an eighth-grade student?" Meyer said at the Dec. 14 band practice, when the piece was played. "He has a good ear for writing a singable melody. If he studies and works hard, he could make a career out of it."

When the band played the piece at the All District Holiday Band Concert Friday night, Meyer was even more impressed.

"That's as well as we've played it," Meyer said.

Michael Barnett, 54, Marcus' grandfather, also was delighted.

The audience in the packed gym watched as members of the Grigsby band, dressed in green T-shirts emblazoned with the school's gator mascot, crisply played the triumphal march.

"That was great. It was actually the first time I ever got to hear it," said Barnett, who works for UPS.

Michael and Rose Barnett adopted Marcus and his two siblings after they were born.

"I thought it was wonderful. I'm very proud of him," Rose Barnett said.

When the band finished playing that work and two others, Meyer called Marcus to the front. The crowd responded with boisterous applause.

"I thought it was awesome. We played it great," Marcus said.

Marcus, who plays baritone horn for the band, considers it a beginning.

He'd like to be a composer, traveling musician and a band director when he grows up. After high school, he'd like to study music at the Juilliard School in New York or Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

"I believe that God gave me this talent, and he wants me to use it to worship him," Marcus said.

Marcus' grandparents are doing what they can to make his dreams a reality.

"We encouraged him to do just about whatever he wants," said Michael Barnett.

At home, "he spends all his time practicing and playing," said Rose Barnett, who works at a photo company.

The interest started after Marcus started taking band in fourth grade. He started playing baritone horn and branched out to play piano and some trumpet. In fifth grade, he wrote a song about Granite City as a class assignment.

In sixth grade, he wrote a short piece for band. With Meyer's revisions, the band performed it in May 2010. He wrote another piece in seventh grade before composing the latest piece. He didn't require any help for "The Triumph of God," and presented all the parts complete to Meyer.

Outside of school, Marcus is practicing playing piano with a new contemporary Christian band, "Unique," at Calvary Life Church, which he attends.

Meyer is already working with high school band teacher Wyatt Roberds to help with Marcus's transition to high school. When he graduates from college, "Marcus will have a portfolio, a body of work to show a college composition department," Meyer said.

Contact reporter Jim Merkel at 618-344-0264, ext. 138