Mark Andersen
Kenmore, WA

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Mark at the Capitol Theatre, York PA. 2005
 
Mark began his education at East Carolina University in North Carolina where he studied organ, harp, voice and carillon. His graduate studies carried him to Chicago and the American Conservatory and then on to a full scholarship at the Paris Conservatory where he studied organ with Marcel Dupre and composition with Nadia Boulanger. Mark served as one of four assistant organists to Notre Dame Cathedral under Pierre Cochereau while in Paris. Returning to the United States, Mark became organist for the Boston Symphony and Artist in Residence to the John Hayes Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester, MA where he played weekly concerts on the largest residence pipe organ in the world. PBS TV did an hour special on Mark and the Castle in 1995.
 

Mark Andersen with Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Pops in 1972
 

Mark at the console of the John Hayes Hammond Museum in 1995. Photo used by permission of PBS television.
 
International Artists Records signed Mark in 1974 and he moved to New York where he took a position as staff arranger for NBC. While at that position he frequently concertised around the world and began recording his now over 30 albums.
 
Today Mark lives in Kenmore, WA and serves as Vice President of Tonal Design for Artisan Instruments, Inc. He continues his recording and concert career with solo handbell artist Lynn Andersen. Their home houses two huge organs including a 5 manual pipe/digital classical organ, a 4 manual Theater Organ, three harps including a Lyon and Healy Concert Grand Harp, a two manual custom made Sperrhake harpsichord, a 4 octave set of Schulmerich Handbells and a 5 octave set of Schulmerich Melody Chimes.
 
Mark is the host for the weekly television show, "Crescendo" which features classical and sacred music. Mark has over 200 works for organ, choir and handbells published to date and frequently tours to present master classes on French Organ Improvisation. Crescendo airs over Time Warner Cable in New York and SCAN in Seattle. The program is also available as a weekly podcast at www.iTunes.com
 
Mark’s musical compositions have twice won the International Composer’s Competition (1976 and 1999) and he has had two prestigious awards granted to him during his career: In 1976 Senator John C Stennis had the US Flag flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. in honor of Mark’s contributions to the world of music in America; in 1986 Mark received North Carolina’s highest arts award, The North Carolina State Award for Excellence, bestowed by Governor James G. Martin. Dr. Andersen has twice been Dean of the American Guild of Organists for the Oneonta Chapter. The New York Times is quoted "Mark gives life to music" in reviewing his first concert at Carnegie Hall.
 

Mark before an AGO Concert in 2000
 
In addition to his classical music Mark also loves Theater Organ and has played as a featured organist during the 1970 New York Theater Organ Convention at Radio City Music Hall. He has several theater organ albums recorded and recently he recorded a video for the Capitol Theater in York, PA. He has also written the musical score for several Off Broadway musicals including "Widow's Waltz", "The Woman They Love to Hate", and "Best Friends"