Music Composed by Mark Francis 2009. Performed by Robert Cope (Soprano Saxophone) and Stewart Wilson (Double Bass) in the RNCM Concert Hall 2009. Copyright Mark Francis 2009.

"Slow and Steady wins the race" - for Double Bass and Soprano saxophone (2009)

Mark J Francis is a 29
 yr old Freelance Composer, Pianist and originally from the North of England, and currently based in London, UK. 

Mark started composing music from an early age (8) and performed in many local Concerts, Festivals and Competitions including Chethams Summer School for Pianists under the tuition of Les Chisnall (aged 11) and Harrogate Competitive Festival (age 13). Whilst at High School, Mark took extra lessons in Harmony and Counterpoint from his Keyboard teacher J. Barry Stephens ARCM which laid the foundations for an academic interest in Composition.

In 2008 he won the award for “Most Outstanding Contribution to the School” at the Junior RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) and proceeded to be accepted with a Scholarship onto the RNCM’s prestigious Joint Principal Study Course a Year early where he studied with Gary Carpenter and Larry Goves as well being a Trombone Student at the College.

In 2009, he was awarded the “Terence Greeves Prize” for his Big Band Composition “City Peaks” which was premiered at Bollington Jazz Festival (Peak District).

His works have been performed by both Professional and upcoming Professional musicians on the UK Jazz and Classical circuit aswell as receiving performances in Germany and Italy. As a Performer (Piano as well as Trombone), he has toured and performed with such ensembles as the National Youth Orchestra, National Youth Brass Band, RNCM Concert Orchestra, Beat’s and Pieces Big Band ("Burghausen JazzWoche" Jazz Competition 2011 - Winners), Soul Tubes, Anisa Quartet (Europaische Jazz Akademie - Resident Ensemble 2012) and Dartington Festival Orchestra as well as having supported Berlin Jazz Orchestra Director Jiggs Whigham at Band on the Wall in Manchester with his own Jazz Quartet “Anisa”. In his time as a Trombonist, he has been fortunate to play under Conductors such as Roland Boer, Vasily Petrenko, Antonio Pappano, James Macmillan and Diego Masson. Mark has also been fortunate enough to appear in the same concert as Jazz Legends Chick Corea and Gary Burton.

He has played at venues such as the Sage (Gateshead), The Barbican, Snape Maltings, Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Band on the Wall, as well European Venues “Landes Musik Akademie – Heek”, Burghausen Concert Hall – Burghausen and Montepulciano Town “Piazza Grande” – Tuscany.

Highlights as a Composer have included commissions for RNCM’s (Royal Northern College of Music) Wind Weekend, Chamber Music Festival as well as performances at two well known European Music Festivals – “Europaische JazzAkademie 2012” and the “35th Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte”. He was also asked in 2010 to write a piece for the Former LSO Principal Trombone Player, Christopher Houlding on his Duet CD which would have featured Vienna Philharmonic Principal Trombone Ian Bousfield (widely recognized as one of the World’s most accomplished Brass Soloists). 

During his time at the RNCM, Mark also wrote many arrangements for the ensembles that he played in and still continues to arrange freelance. He has also played as a Pianist at Park Regis Kris Kin 5* Hotel in Dubai and 5* Hotels in London including "The Wellesley Hotel" as well "The Lanesborough Hotel",  one of Forbes Travel Guide's "finest 5* Properties in the World" .

More Recently, Mark was happy to perform with Anisa Quartet at the Band on the Wall in March 2014 alongside Former BBC Big Band Conductor, Internationally Renowned American Trombonist and Berlin Jazz Orchestra Director Jiggs Whigham (as well as premiering on of his own Jazz Tunes in the first half) as part of a Solo Feature in the National Trombone Day, and was invited back October 2015 with "STUntmen". 

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Check out some of Mark Francis' other music!:

www.soundcloud.com/mark-francis-pianist

www.soundcloud.com/mark-francis-producer

www.soundcloud.com/anisa-quartet

www.soundcloud.com/stuntmentrio

"Slow and Steady wins the race" - for Double Bass and Soprano saxophone (2009)

Mark Francis - Composer