Mark and his wife, Leanne moved from Colorado four years ago to be in their favorite area of
the country. They have two children and six grandchildren.
Mark began his career in music as a toddler by fashioning drum sets from most anything
not bolted down. At age 13 he began subbing as an organist and by 16 was playing
professionally in rock and jazz bands and every single Sunday in church. He received
degrees in music theory and composition from the University of Dayton and the University of
Colorado, Boulder, as well as doctoral study at CU Boulder and SUNY Buffalo.

He served for 19 years as director of cathedral and diocesan music, including nine years at
the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist/Diocese of Charleston SC. He also served for 12 years
as music director for St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish and Catholic Center (the chapel
and campus ministry serving the University of Colorado, Boulder).

He has played the organ at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on three occasions and has
given recitals around the US, including at Trinity Church and King’s Chapel in Boston, St.
Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC and the Basilica of the National Shrine in DC. He was for many
years a recitalist at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco and his organ music has been
featured on NPR/APM Pipedreams. He has written three English Mass settings and
numerous Latin choral pieces, some of which are published by Earthsongs.
Mark has played jazz for three presidents, including solo piano for one on over 20
occasions (although none were president at the time, and one wasn’t even elected…). He
has performed in numerous clubs, galleries, inns and private events ranging from Buffalo’s
Albright Knox Museum to Charleston’s Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and from venues in Vail,
Aspen, Telluride and Steamboat Springs to the White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport and the
Jazz Corner in Hilton Head. He plays piano locally at resorts and private events and
frequently at Old Edwards Club in Cashiers and at Sky Valley and Chota Falls (GA). He is
extremely honored and thrilled to serve the communities of St. Jude and Our Lady of the
Mountains and work with Fr. Barone.