Mark Tanner made his BBC television début at the age of 13, playing Liszt. Under the tutelage of Philip Martin, Richard McMahon and Geoffrey Buckley he played in many masterclasses with revered soloists, including three winners of the Tchaikovsky International Competition: Vladimir Ashkenazy, Peter Donohoe and the late John Ogdon. Following his concerto début with the University of London Symphony Orchestra in 1991 playing Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto, he has become increasingly in demand as soloist.
Mark’s PhD, from the Birmingham Conservatoire, unravelled the performance history of Liszt’s Sonata in B minor, a work he has performed many times. He has subsequently published in America and the UK, including 19th Century Music and the Liszt Society Journal, and is music journalist for a number of publications, including International Record Review, Musical Opinion, Classical Music, Piano International and Piano Professional. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an energetic member of Mensa.
In recent years Mark has given four consecutive recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall and a sell-out recital at the Purcell Room on London’s South Bank alongside several appearances at St George's, Bristol, where he was invited to play with duo partner, Alan Schiller, at the Mozart 250 Celebrations. In previous years he has performed at St John’s Smith Square London, Brangwyn Hall Swansea, the Jacqueline du Pre Concert Room, the Bath Pump Room, the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London and the RWCMD, among other prestigious venues. He continues to accept regular engagements on cruise liners all around the globe. In 2008 he will be undertaking three cruise appearances with flautist partner, Gillian Poznansky, with whom he will also be making one of two recordings for the Priory label, and appearing at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Chethams International Summer School for Pianists and at Truro School. Mark will also be giving his popular Summer School for piano teachers at Jackdaws Educational Trust in Somerset, adjudicating the Cornwall and Nailsea Music Festivals, judging the EPTA Piano Competition and examining in Cyprus and Hong Kong. He is a popular lecturer and teacher, giving lecture recitals, workshops and masterclasses at the National Young Pianists’ Week, Uppingham, Dillington House, Somerset and the Farncombe Estate, Worcestershire. For some sixteen years he held the position of Assistant Director of Music at Taunton School, Somerset, succeeding pianists Christopher Headington and Peter Jacobs.
He now examines grades and diplomas internationally for the Associated Board (having conducted six tours to Hong Kong, Beijing, USA, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Cyprus and N. Ireland). He is also an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals. At the invitation of the Hong Kong Piano Association he has given masterclasses at Xinghai Conservatory, University of Guangzhou, in Southern China. He has also given masterclasses and judged piano prizes at the RWCMD.
Mark recently edited Peter Wishart’s complete solo piano works for Peters Edition. His series of piano pieces, ‘Eye-Tunes’, which comprises 100 pieces in eight volumes, is forthcoming with Spartan Press, and he is currently editing contemporary piano works for Griffin Music. In 2009 Mark will performing at the Universities of Edinburgh and Napier, and also at the S.O.U.N.D Festival in Aberdeen. He has examination engagements to Singapore, Switzerland and Sri Lanka, a cruise to the Caribbean and will be adjudicating festivals in Wadebridge, Salisbury and Bristol. He will be giving masterclasses in Amsterdam and appearing at the Jackdaws Summer School. Recitals with flautist Gillian Poznansky are also planned, including the Frome Festival.
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