Here is where you can download an abbreviated version of Mark Tanner's biography as well as the Poznansky-Tanner Duo's for use in concert programmes, website entries, brochures and so on. It is updated quite frequently. You may also feel free to download these images for publicity purposes.
Mark Tanner Biography (700 words)
Mark Tanner was born in Bristol in 1963. His first tentative solo appearance at Bristol’s Colston Hall, aptly described as “intrepid” by the Bristol Evening Post, came at the age of 13, and shortly after he appeared on BBC TV, playing Liszt. He studied piano with Gwyn Pritchard, Geoffrey Buckley, Philip Martin and Richard McMahon, gaining his PhD from the Birmingham Conservatoire in 1999. He has appeared in many of Britain’s most favoured recital halls, including five successive appearances at Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and St John’s Smith Square in London as well as a number of prominent educational establishments including the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, the RWCMD, Birmingham Conservatoire and recently at Chethams International Summer School for Pianists. He also appeared at St George’s Bristol with duo partner Allan Schiller as part of the Mozart 250 celebrations. For a number of years Mark has been a popular recitalist on cruise liners around the globe. He has broadcast several premières live on BBC Radio 3 and his recordings have attracted consistently high critical acclaim. Of his York Bowen CD, Bryce Morrison of Gramophone wrote in June 2008:
“Most pianists would give an arm and a leg, or at least a finger, to achieve his sumptuous sonority and seamless legato…such enviable breadth and poetic commitment.”
His especial interest in British music has led to commissioned works from a number of revered composers including John McLeod, Philip Martin, Graham Lynch, Paul ‘Harry’ Harris, Colin Decio, Frederick Stocken and Andrew Wilson-Dickson. Mark is music critic for a number of prominent journals, having contributed to International Record Review, Classical Music, Musical Opinion, International Piano and Piano Professional. He has published scholarly articles in the USA and UK, including 19th Century Music and the Liszt Society Journal, and edited contemporary several music scores for Peters Edition and Griffin Music. His eight-volume series for piano entitled Eye-Tunes (100 pieces in all) has just been published in 2009 by Spartan Press. He is an international examiner of grades and diplomas for the ABRSM, having undertaken seven tours to Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, New Zealand, USA, Canada, N. Ireland and Cyprus, with imminent tours to Sri Lanka, Turkey and Switzerland. He adjudicates festivals for the British and International Federation of Festivals, twice judged the EPTA Piano Competition and has given many lectures on a diverse range of subjects as well as masterclasses in Europe and mainland China. For sixteen years he was Assistant Director of Music at Taunton School in Somerset; he has been active in music education for 25 years. Mark Tanner is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of Mensa. Earlier this year Mark was awarded an honorary degree from the Birmingham Conservatoire for his distinguished presence in the profession. He divides his time unequally between Cornwall, Somerset and the rest of the world. His first novel, Life on Mars? A Catinel’s Chance, has just been published by Llama Press. Hobbies include eating and sleeping.
In 2008 he appeared at Wigmore Hall, undertook three cruise appearances with flautist partner, Gillian Poznansky, with whom he made one of two recordings for the Priory label, and appeared at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Chethams International Summer School for Pianists and at Truro School. Mark also gave his popular Summer School for piano teachers at Jackdaws Educational Trust in Somerset, adjudicated the Cornwall and Nailsea Music Festivals, judged the EPTA Piano Competition and examined in Cyprus and Hong Kong.
In 2009 Mark will be performing with flautist Gillian Poznansky atWigmore Hall and the Frome Festival. As soloist he is appearing at the University of Edinburgh and at the S.O.U.N.D Festival in Aberdeen. In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Peter Wishart's death, Mark is producing a recording of the Aubade for flute and string quartet featuring the Delme Quartet and Christopher Hyde-Smith, and the clarinet trio, featuring Michael Langdon-Davies. He has examination engagements to Singapore, Switzerland and Sri Lanka, two cruises to the Caribbean and Mediterranean and will be adjudicating festivals in Wadebridge, Salisbury and Bristol. He will be giving masterclasses in Amsterdam and appearing at the Jackdaws Summer School.
Poznansky-Tanner Duo
The Poznansky-Tanner Duo have been delighting audiences around the world for a number of years with attractive, accessible classical music programmes. They have given many recitals aboard cruise ships (notably for P&O and Saga), where their inimitable blend of musicianship and good-humoured presentation also insures a special occasion. In the UK they have appeared in many venues, with a Wigmore Hall appearance to look out for this coming July, alongside a recital at the Frome Festival. The Duo is available for concerts, functions, weddings and corporate work.
Mark Tanner: Low Resolution image (see below for convenient download of TIF image)
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Mark Tanner: Alternative Low Resolution image (see below for convenient download of TIF image)
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Poznansky-Tanner Duo: Low Resolution image (see below for convenient download of TIF image)
Gillian Poznansky: Low Resolution image (see below for convenient download of TIF image)
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