Born and bred in Yorkshire, the son of Royal Marine trained percussionist, Mark is a product of the Huddersfield Youth Orchestra system, starting on cornet and then quickly moving to trumpet. From 15 years old he played with the Huddersfield University Big Band and at 16 took up the piano. He then studied Composition & Arranging at City of Leeds College of Music, where he won the Peter Knight Yorkshire Television Arranging Prize, and started playing saxophone. Mark then went on to do a Masters in Film Composition & Sound Design at Bournemouth University where he also started playing the drums (finally!).

 

With 30 years experience working in schools (Thomas' Battersea, Old Buckenham Hall School, Hurstpierpoint College Prep School and Great Walstead School), he has been a Director of Music for over 15 years. During that time Mark has always enjoyed a diverse sound world and so has sought additional creative challenges: forming his own sextet who performed at the 606 Jazz Club amongst other places; writing and performing a litany of original pieces including a ballet 'The Snow Queen'; a Gloria for orchestra, mixed choir, trebles and soprano solo; a jazz choral work 'Syncopated Psalms' for mass youth choir and big band; and a jazz biopic with 12 piece big band and actors based on the life and music of Thelonious Monk. 

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Mark is currently enjoying the opportunity to explore several creative projects whilst working with individuals and musical groups.