MUSIC AND THE FUTURE

Training for the future is integral to much of Mark's work. In the case of orchestras, opera companies and small ensembles, this means developmental work for artists that runs alongside outreach activities. Mark works regularly with selected musicians from the LSO with the aim of keeping their skills moving forward in their work with people with special needs. With many ensembles, working with Mark is the first opportunity that their artists have had to work in a creative way with sections of the community and a major part of Mark's role is to help these artists find the appropriate ways to extend their existing skills. This work developed over 15 years at the Festival D'Aix through the Artistes-Relais, a modular programme for orchestral musicians, chamber music groups, singers, composers and traditional musicians from around the Mediterranean basin.
Similarly, Mark writes and delivers training materials for teachers, families, carers: for anyone looking at engaging people in the process of creating music. All of Mark's projects in education and the community aim to extend the range of skills of the professionals involved and a training element is included to enhance this. Together with music therapists Vicky Kammin and Cathy Ibberson, Mark leads training activities with Jessie's Fund that provide staff in children's hospices and special schools, skilled musicians or not, with resources to include practical music making in their working lives.
Work with students and young professional musicians is clearly of great importance and Mark is developing training in outreach activities at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse in Paris. In 2020, he began working with the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam on a radical new residency for young string quartets.