Mark Francis

Mark Francis is a 27 yr old British Composer, Pianist, Arranger and Producer originally from the North of England, and currently based in London, UK. He studied with Les Chisnall (Jazz Improvisation and Composition) at the Chetham's International Summer School for Pianists in 2001/2 and gained entry to the Junior RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) in 2006 where he studied with Jonathan Middleton. During his early years, he played in many Concerts at the Royal Northern College of Music and in Harrogate including premiering many of his own Compositions and in 2008, he was accepted into the Royal Northern College of Music a year early to study Composition + Performance and concluded his studies there in December 2012. 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 (for 2 years) at the College although no longer plays Trombone Professionally. 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 Bass and Tenor 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”. 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 pieces written 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). He has played, and taught at the European Jazz Academy (2012) alongside some of the most accomplished Jazz Musicians hailing from Europe, and further a field, giving Masterclasses and Concerts to people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds. His ensemble "Anisa" were titled "Ensemble in Residence" at the EJA 2012 and also recently were invited to perform alongside it's Director, the American Soloist, Jiggs Whigham (ex-BBC Big Band Director and Berlin Jazz Orchestra Conductor) at the National Trombone Day in Manchester (Band on the Wall) where Jiggs Whigham headlined the festival. Mark has played in several 5* Hotels in the UAE and the UK (Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Dubai and several London Hotels - Knightsbridge and Marble Arch areas resectively) as well as having played in one of Forbes Travel Guides "Finest 5* Properties in the World (2015/16)" - which he plays at frequently. He also plays at the "Soho Business Club" on Carlisle Street in Soho (London) in it's Award Winning Piano Bar. He has had the pleasure of working with Bulgarian Jazz Singer "Maya Krasteva" as part of the Park Regis Kris Kin Resident Jazz Duo in 2014/2015 and was also joined briefly by Julia Naidenko during this time. In June 2015, Mark formed a New Manchester based Trio called "Stuntmen" which performed at Leeds University with Jiggs Whigham in October 2015 and he is now hoping to move forward successfully with.