Mark graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (QCM), Australia, in 1981. He was awarded a Bachelor of Music (BMus) with distinction in both Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy. Mark was awarded the prize for being the most outstanding graduate of 1981. He continued his studies at the QCM in 1982 and completed a Graduate Diploma in Music, specialising in Piano Pedagogy. During his time at the QCM, Mark was also awarded Associate (AMusA) and Licentiate (LTCL) Diplomas in Piano Performance from the Australian Music Examinations Board and Trinity College London, respectively.
In 1982, Mark was admitted as a Fellow (FTCL) to Trinity College London. To stay at the cutting edge of music and music education, Mark undertook further postgraduate studies during the 1990s. This resulted in being awarded a Graduate Diploma in Further Education and Training (GradDipFET) from the University of Southern Queensland and the degree of Master of Music (MMus) from the Queensland University of Technology.
Mark has experience as a piano recitalist and accompanist. As a soloist, Mark has performed with the QCM Symphony Orchestra under international conductor Werner Andreas Albert and for Command Performances in Brisbane. His interest and experience in playing Pop and Jazz styles allows Mark to move freely between contemporary and classical music.
In 1983, Mark started a highly successful music school in Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) with a fellow QCM graduate. Their school received numerous awards with high achieving students being invited to perform in concerts throughout Australia and South East Asia. Mark honed his private and group teaching skills during this time, and thus laid the foundation for what was to become Encore Music Education. During this era, Mark developed substantial musical resources and curricula, all of which were piloted with a large number of students over a significant period of time.
From 1995 to 2006, Mark was on the staff of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) as a tutor and lecturer. His areas of expertise included Piano Performance, Music Technology, Keyboard Harmony, Aural Training and Musicianship Studies. He also directed the QUT Keyboard/Piano Ensemble.
In 1996 Mark established Accent Publishing with Morna Robinson and Jane Stavrinoudis. Mark’s skills as an experienced educator, composer and curriculum writer flourished from this time. His most recent collaboration with Morna Robinson to produce Kinder Beat has set a new bench-mark for early childhood music education.
Mark is committed to staying at the forefront of music education by continuing to produce innovative materials for students of the 21st century.