Mark began playing drums at age three, and enjoyed a wide variety of musical experiences as a young person due to his parent’s great support for the arts. He started his professional career at age thirteen when he became full time drummer for three time Grammy winner, (and Polka King) Walter Ostanek. Later as a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Degree in Orchestral Music Performance, he gained much practical experience as an orchestral percussionist. After that Mark spent 5 years studying with acclaimed musician Jim Blackley. Mark’s seemingly boundless musical appreciation and experience has taken him around the world and allowed him the opportunity to work with such artists as David Foster, Sarah Mclachlan, Amy Sky, Eva Avila, Rich Little, Bob Newhart, Ben Vereen, Petula Clark & Regis Philbin. Mark was recently featured as house drummer on Country Music Television’s Cross Country Tour and TV special. In the country world Mark has toured with Tara Oram, Victoria Banks, The Higgins, Jason Blain, Alex J Robinson, Chris Commings and Adam Gregory. Mark completed two seasons as the studio and live TV drummer for CBC’s TRIPLE SENSATION hit TV reality series. Mark has been a first call sub for several long running theatre shows in Toronto including WE WILL ROCK YOU, DIRTY DANCING, ROCK OF AGES, and JERSEY BOYS. Along with a busy studio career Mark is currently touring the globe with Decca/Universal Recording Artists THE CANADIAN TENORS. Mark can be heard playing his new YAMAHA Maple/Birch Custom Absolute Nouveau kit with JR Robinson signature snare drum on The Canadian Tenors PBS special and DVD as well as their most recent CD ‘The Perfect GIft’. Mark has been part of the YAMAHA family since the early 1990’s; and considers himself blessed to be sitting behind these beautiful drums at home, in the studio and on the road. mark@markinneo.com
