The Piano Doctor

It was evident from an early age that Mark was taking a keen interest in keyboard instruments when, at the age of 3/4 years old, the only way his mother could get him to shut up in church every Sunday was to sit directly behind the organist!

Having studied music all through school to A-level, he went on to obtain a Bachelor of Music degree at QUB. He sang with the University Choir, “Queen’s Consort” and played in both the Chamber and University Orchestras, as well as having two years with The Northern Ireland Symphony Orchestra and The Ulster Youth Orchestra (piano, keyboards, celeste, clarinet and saxophone). During these years (and after) he concentrated also on orchestral conducting, taking the role with a variety of orchestras and choirs.

In 2005 Mark moved to Canada to pursue training as a piano technician, being chosen to attend the highly rated and unique program at The University of Western Ontario. On top of his regular, very intensive, training, his time in Canada was used in the preparation and maintenance of the university music dept’s practice pianos (approx 150 in all), along with the maintenance and care of the pianos at the university’s halls of residence. Mark also assisted in the re-build of a vintage 1878 7’ Steinway Grand piano, and in the preparation of a Steinway Concert Grand for a performance by “Orchestra London” at Centennial Hall, London. During his time training in North America, Mark attended seminars at UWO, as well as Steinway factory in New York, Steinway Hall (New York) and the Yamaha performers’ studio (New York), given by some of the leading piano technicians on the continent. In March 2005 he spent time at the “Interlochen Centre for the Arts” in Michigan State assisting in the preparation of some of their 150 pianos for their famous summer music festival.