Acclaimed London clarinettist Mark Crooks to perform with Academy of St Olaves’ Chamber Orchestra
Acclaimed
London clarinettist Mark Crooks can be seen in concert with York’s
own Academy of St Olaves chamber orchestra on Saturday
January 17th 2009 at St Olaves’ Church, Marygate, York.
Mark, a former pupil at York Sixth Form College, will perform the
clarinet concerto written for him some 21 years ago by local composer
and York Sixth Form College lecturer Dick Blackford.
After York Sixth Form College Mark studied clarinet at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and then at the Guildhall School of Music, winning the Young Jazz Player of the Year Competition in 1991. Since leaving college Mark has worked in a wide variety of musical settings including classical work, sessions and shows on saxophones and clarinet but his real love is for jazz clarinet. He has appeared at jazz clubs and festivals all over Europe including residencies at Ronnie Scott's and the Pizza Express Jazz Club.
In 2007 Mark was invited to be the Clarinet Soloist with James Langton's Solid Senders Orchestra for two special performances at the National Concert Hall in Dublin of the music of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. The sold-out concerts were a huge success and a London Premiere for Artie Shaw with Strings was quickly arranged for the Cadogan Hall in September 2008. Mark has released two CDs with his own quintet to great critical acclaim," I Won't Dance" and " How My Heart Sings." He has just recorded a brand new album “AFTER YOU’VE GONE” which was released in September 2008. As well as his own group Mark is a member of the celebrated John Wilson Orchestra and the superb Back To Basie Orchestra.
For further information please contact info@academyofstolaves.org.uk