Mark Edwards MMus

Originally from Edinburgh, Mark trained as a percussionist before taking up conducting, and has recently completed his Masters in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with Clark Rundell and Mark Heron, where he was awarded the Brierley Kershaw Prize for Conducting

In 2017, Mark won the National Brass Band Conducting Competition and more recently was a semi-finalist in the Citta’ Di Brescia-Giancarlo Facchinetti Conducting Competition. Comfortable working on large scale projects for both orchestra and choir, he has recently directed larger repertoire including: Elgar – The Dream of Gerontius, Vaughan Williams – A Sea Symphony, and Verdi – Requiem.
As assistant conductor, he has taken rehearsals for RTE concert orchestra and acted as cover conductor for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Mark has also worked on projects with BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Psappha ensemble, assisting conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Vasily Petrenko, Vassily Sinaisky, John Storgårds and Simone Young. 

As musical director for the award winning chamber choir Voices of Hope (recent winners of the BBC Choir of the Year Competition), Mark has curated numerous programmes including a recent jazz-inspired concert with Will Todd and a concert of new commissions with Neil Ferris. He is musical director for New Tyneside Orchestra, Hexham Orpheus Choir and is a lecturer in Conducting at Newcastle University. He has also undertaken masterclasses with renowned conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Marin Alsop and David Hill.

During his time in Manchester, he worked with a variety of RNCM ensembles conducting a large range of repertoire including a number of premieres. With a keen interest in contemporary music, Mark has worked with Royal Northern Sinfonia, London Sinfonietta Academy and Streetwise Opera on new compositions. Recent highlights include performing at the Royal Albert Hall, London and Symphony Hall, Birmingham and live broadcasts for various BBC3 programmes.