About Mark Wolfram...

Award-winning composer Mark Wolfram brings over 45 years of experience as a professional composer, arranger, orchestrator and musician to every project he writes. In addition to his ever-growing list of works for wind ensemble, Mark has enjoyed a multi-faceted career creating music for the concert stage, television programs, Broadway shows, jazz and pop recording artists and advertising clients. As well as having arranged for Diana Ross & The Supremes, Peter Cetera, Kenny Rogers, The Irish Tenors, Cybill Shepherd, Chris Isaak, Joe Williams, Lena Horne, Doc Severinson, Peter Nero, The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and ABC-TV's Monday Night Football, Mark has composed and produced original scores for General Hospital, Another World, Riptide and Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Mark's Interludes for Percussion and Trumpet is performed internationally and his Brass Trio (1988), which took Grand Prize in the 1989 International Horn Society Competition, is frequently performed on four continents. His instrumental works continue to be played at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as by the Chicago Bears Band and numerous college, high school and community music ensembles.

Mark's ongoing passion for creating new and exciting music for concert band includes recent compositions for the following ensembles: St. Olaf Concert Band, Boise State University Symphonic Winds, the University of Oregon Wind Ensemble, Minnesota State University Mankato Concert Wind Ensemble, Wright State University Symphonic Winds, the City of Lakes Community Band, the Medalist Concert Band, the Tucson Pops Orchestra and the Arizona Symphonic Winds of Tucson. For Mark, there are few thrills bigger than composing for and conducting a large ensemble of musicians, whether it's a wind ensemble, jazz band or symphonic orchestra.
 

Mark began his music education with piano and violin, but switched to trombone at age 10, being mentored by Dr. Earl Benson from 7th grade through high school, at which time he also took conducting lessons with Vaclav Nehlybel and Dr. Alfred Reed as well as composition and arranging with Dr. Frank Bencriscutto at the University of Minnesota. Mark attended Northwestern University where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree and studied arranging, conducting and band techniques with John P. Paynter and trombone with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Frank Crisafulli. He also spent a summer as a member of the Disneyland All-American College Band, studying in Hollywood (via The California Institute of the Arts) with such musical luminaries as Irwin Kostal, Carmen Dragon, Willis Shaffer, Pat Williams, Buddy Baker, John Cacavas and Jim Christensen. Mark continued his studies at UCLA and USC with courses in composition, orchestration (with Alexander Courage), electronic synthesis, and film scoring. He was selected for and participated in the prestigious Fred Karlin/ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop, and also studied composition privately with Oscar-winning composer Leonard Rosenman and Dr. Mark Carlson.

Inspired by such masters as Bernard Herrmann, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Max Steiner and Miklos Rozsa, Mark created his first album PIERCING THE CELLULOID VEIL - music that tells a story, evokes a mood and creates a transcendent adventure for the listener. "...a powerful emotional experience...a soundtrack without a film - using the mind's eye as a projector." - Jon Burlingame, Daily Variety

INVICTUS, Mark's newest CD release, embodies the indomitable spirit of the William Henley poem - both in musical content and recording / production technique, since so many concessions had to be made to accommodate pandemic protocols. But ultimately the music prevails and is brought to life by Mark conducting the Los Angeles Studio Wind Ensemble, the producers' determination and the powers of technology. INVICTUS is a triumph of spirit and art.

"Exciting character, harmonically interesting...and fun to listen to."
           - Marcellus Brown, Director of Bands - Boise State University

"Beautifully written...Mark's music is interesting, colorful, and optimistic."
           - Jack Perricone, Chair Emeritus, Songwriting - Berklee College of Music

For interviews, appearances or more information, contact Betty Richards at bettyrichards@markwolfram.com.