Mark

Mark has been a singer and an instrumentalist since the fourth grade, when he joined the Mankato Children’s Chorus and picked up his first Saxophone. He studied privately all through high school, and was a Minnesota All-State member, qualifying on both Saxophone and voice.

Mark attended Lawrence University, in Appleton, Wisconsin, where his musical ambitions continued to grow. He studied voice with Ken Bozeman and Choral Conducting with Rick Bjella. He founded and sang in a men’s A Cappella group, the Con Artists, and helped to record and release the group’s first album.

While at Lawrence, Mark also studied Saxophone performance with Steven Jordheim. In addition to being a member of the Wind Ensemble, Mark played in saxophone quartets for four years, often performing premieres of new compositions by faculty and student composers. He especially loved to play chamber music and work with many different kinds of instruments, which he incorporated into his solo recitals.

Mark graduated with a degree in Choral Music Education, and from 2007-2009 he taught choir and vocal music at Lourdes High School and St. John Neumann Middle School in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. While there, he conducted all five choirs, directed the Madrigal Singers, and served as the music/artistic director for the annual musical. Additionally, he taught private voice lessons to more than fifteen students.

Mark moved to the Twin Cities to continue teaching privately and to sing with professional and semi-professional music ensembles in the area. His approach to teaching stresses mastery of musical fundamentals in order to play and sing in many different styles. His specialties are classical voice and classical Saxophone, and he is comfortable working with all skill levels. Mark also teaches Piano for beginners and Acoustic Guitar for beginners and intermediate students.