Mark has nearly 50 years’ experience in the brass band movement half of which was spent at Championship level. Mark began playing at the age of 8 as a founder member of the BTM Band. As with most players, Mark began on Cornet, later changing to Baritone and eventually to Euphonium in 1981.
Since changing to Euphonium, Mark has established himself worldwide as one of the finest exponents of this instrument. In 1987, he became the first ever Brass Instrumentalist to win the coveted instrumental “blue riband” solo competition at the National Eisteddfod held in Bro Madog, a feat he repeated in both Casnewydd (1988) and Llanelwedd (1993).
Mark has regularly competed at the British Open Solo championships and has won the Euphonium category on six occasions. In 1990 he achieved the ultimate accolade by becoming the British Open Solo Champion, going on to represent Great Britain in the Brass International Musician of the Year Contest held in Auckland, New Zealand where he came home with a very creditable 2nd Prize.
Check out the YouTube link to watch Marks' winning performance of Philip Sparkes' "Pantomime" to become The 1990 British Open Solo Champion. The contest was held at The Mill on the Pier at Wigan. Mark speaks highly of the very warm welcome given by the organisers Keith Hollinshead, Frank Hodges and all their staff. A special thank you to all who supported Mark at this event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Y106aSjx8
He has also featured as soloist on many Radio Broadcasts and on the Band’s CDs as well as at concerts all over Europe. He was the subject of a television program entitled "It's My Life" broadcast on HTV in 2000. Mark has toured Canada and the USA as guest soloist with the Aber Valley Male Voice Choir. Mark was also a founder member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and in 1985 was awarded “the most outstanding student” by the tutors. He was the first past player to be invited back and perform as guest soloist with the band being directed by Edward Gregson.
He has shared (as Solo Euphonium) the dramatic rise and success, especially in the late 1980s and 1990s, of the BTM Band. They represented Wales at 2 Europeans and at 10 National Championships since they gained Championship status in 1985. Mark has taught both adults and students in the BTM Band where he was the resident musical director from 1981 to 2014 working alongside the bands’ professional conductors such as Melvin White, James Gourlay, David Maplestone, Nigel Boddice, Nigel Seaman, David Stowell, Jason Katsikaris, Tom Davoren, Jeremy Wise, Denzil Stephens, Phil Harper and more.
Mark has arranged and composed music especially for the well-known BTMX 10-piece ensemble, made up of members from the Senior Band. He is now using that experience to good effect by turning his attentions to the full Brass Band and Youth Band ensembles. He has written the music for a pop song called “Everybody you Know” by Mk II. This is the result of composing a brass piece and a singer/guitarist friend (also called Mark) happening to hear it, liking it and then working on it together. It is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Deezer and Spotify. There is also a promotional video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1VFZL3jqRE
In 2000 it was Marks idea for BTM Band to create their own recording studio for the purpose of producing their own CD’s as well as giving local musicians a place to record. During this time, Mark has recorded and produced BTM Band’s last 4 CD’s and Usk Youth Band (Jeff Jones) as well as recording/producing a variety of musical groups, singers and choirs. Indeed one local band “People like Us” whom Mark produced were invited to play on the Alan Thompson show on BBC Radio Wales.
In 2012, Mark was honoured to receive the Caerphilly County Borough Mayor's Civic Award for outstanding work in the community.
Mark has a B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and worked in this field for 15 years before gaining a B.Ed. in Music where he has worked at Newport High School teaching Music, Maths, Science and Electronics. He has decided to retire this year (2017) and is now in a position to offer his expertise, experience, time and passion for music to help others realise their musical dreams of performing and recording. Hence “Red and Black Studio”. If you are ready to record then please check us out. Most large percussion is available to use so you only need your brass instruments, guitars etc. but please check beforehand.
Since changing to Euphonium, Mark has established himself worldwide as one of the finest exponents of this instrument. In 1987, he became the first ever Brass Instrumentalist to win the coveted instrumental “blue riband” solo competition at the National Eisteddfod held in Bro Madog, a feat he repeated in both Casnewydd (1988) and Llanelwedd (1993).
Mark has regularly competed at the British Open Solo championships and has won the Euphonium category on six occasions. In 1990 he achieved the ultimate accolade by becoming the British Open Solo Champion, going on to represent Great Britain in the Brass International Musician of the Year Contest held in Auckland, New Zealand where he came home with a very creditable 2nd Prize.
Check out the YouTube link to watch Marks' winning performance of Philip Sparkes' "Pantomime" to become The 1990 British Open Solo Champion. The contest was held at The Mill on the Pier at Wigan. Mark speaks highly of the very warm welcome given by the organisers Keith Hollinshead, Frank Hodges and all their staff. A special thank you to all who supported Mark at this event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Y106aSjx8
He has also featured as soloist on many Radio Broadcasts and on the Band’s CDs as well as at concerts all over Europe. He was the subject of a television program entitled "It's My Life" broadcast on HTV in 2000. Mark has toured Canada and the USA as guest soloist with the Aber Valley Male Voice Choir. Mark was also a founder member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and in 1985 was awarded “the most outstanding student” by the tutors. He was the first past player to be invited back and perform as guest soloist with the band being directed by Edward Gregson.
He has shared (as Solo Euphonium) the dramatic rise and success, especially in the late 1980s and 1990s, of the BTM Band. They represented Wales at 2 Europeans and at 10 National Championships since they gained Championship status in 1985. Mark has taught both adults and students in the BTM Band where he was the resident musical director from 1981 to 2014 working alongside the bands’ professional conductors such as Melvin White, James Gourlay, David Maplestone, Nigel Boddice, Nigel Seaman, David Stowell, Jason Katsikaris, Tom Davoren, Jeremy Wise, Denzil Stephens, Phil Harper and more.
Mark has arranged and composed music especially for the well-known BTMX 10-piece ensemble, made up of members from the Senior Band. He is now using that experience to good effect by turning his attentions to the full Brass Band and Youth Band ensembles. He has written the music for a pop song called “Everybody you Know” by Mk II. This is the result of composing a brass piece and a singer/guitarist friend (also called Mark) happening to hear it, liking it and then working on it together. It is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Deezer and Spotify. There is also a promotional video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1VFZL3jqRE
In 2000 it was Marks idea for BTM Band to create their own recording studio for the purpose of producing their own CD’s as well as giving local musicians a place to record. During this time, Mark has recorded and produced BTM Band’s last 4 CD’s and Usk Youth Band (Jeff Jones) as well as recording/producing a variety of musical groups, singers and choirs. Indeed one local band “People like Us” whom Mark produced were invited to play on the Alan Thompson show on BBC Radio Wales.
In 2012, Mark was honoured to receive the Caerphilly County Borough Mayor's Civic Award for outstanding work in the community.
Mark has a B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and worked in this field for 15 years before gaining a B.Ed. in Music where he has worked at Newport High School teaching Music, Maths, Science and Electronics. He has decided to retire this year (2017) and is now in a position to offer his expertise, experience, time and passion for music to help others realise their musical dreams of performing and recording. Hence “Red and Black Studio”. If you are ready to record then please check us out. Most large percussion is available to use so you only need your brass instruments, guitars etc. but please check beforehand.