Biography

Born in Sydney, Mark obtained a Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium under the tutelage of Daryl Pratt and Richard Miller. He furthered his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London where he graduated with a Post-Graduate Diploma. His principal teachers at the RAM included Neil Percy, David Searcy, Kurt-Hans Goedicke and Andrew Barclay. He was also awarded the James Blades Award for Percussion, the Zildjian prize and in 2012 he was appointed an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM).

During his time in the United Kingdom, Mark performed with some of Britain's finest orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. With the LSO, he toured extensively throughout Europe and had the opportunity to perform under the direction of some of the world's most renowned conductors including Valery Gergiev, Bernard Haitink, André Previn and Yuri Temirkanov.

Mark has been a regular participant in the St Endellion and Aldeburgh music festivals. With the latter, he recorded the obbligato Timpani in Benjamin Britten's 'Nocturne' for BBC Radio 3. As a chamber musician, he has performed Bartók's 'Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion' and Luciano Berio's 'Linea' during the 2004 London Berio festival. He has also performed alongside Bob Becker (Nexus Percussion ensemble) and with internationally renowned percussion soloist Colin Currie.

Mark moved to Belfast in 2006 after being appointed Section Leader of Percussion with the Ulster Orchestra, a position that he held until his return to Sydney in 2010. He has been heavily involved in education and outreach programs in Sydney, London and throughout Northern Ireland, and is the Vice-President of the Australian chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.

Mark joined the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2010.