Mark's World of Music

Welcome to my music page! During my life I have tried the clarinet, trumpet, piano, and voice-- and finally ended up focusing on voice. Ever since about 5th grade I have found myself performing in one sort of holiday program, usually using my voice. Occasionally I act or dance on stage, but that's usually because somebody wanted me to sing.

In elementary school I had an amazing music teacher-- Mrs. Erickson. I am not sure where she is these days, but I would have to blame her for my undying interest in music. I also got boosts from various teachers along the way, particularly at Van Nuys High School in the Vannaires. Mrs. Blackwell yanked me off the Track and Field team when she heard I could sing and forced me to be in her choir. One thing led to another and I ended up in the "Vannaires," singing my little heart out in show choir, jazz choir, and drama-based venues. I'll never forget the box step...

After high school I joined the Stanford Fleet Street Singers! I dedicated a good portion of my undergraduate life to that group- and will never regret a single moment. I grew musically, personally, even "professionally" through that group, and now have life-time membership to that brotherhood as a venerable "Old Fart."

<-- The Fleet Street Logo

After Fleet Street I became less focused on my singing and more focused on my dancing. I took lessons in swing, tango, salsa, foxtrot, etc. I still , however, managed to stop by Los Angeles every now and then for a rejuvinating voice lesson with my voice teacher Gabriel. I try to see him at least once per year. Those voice lessons become more of a meditation and less of a performance art the more I pursue it, but that is fine with me.

So, what kinds of music interest me now? I love all kinds of music: Pop, Jazz, Classical, Vocal, Piano, Latin, Rap, Opera. I can usually find something I like performed in most any style. While some artists strike me as particularly cheesy or completely talentless, I will not mention them here. I particularly enjoy Take6, George Michael, Pavarotti, Chopin, and Will Smith, to name a few.