After beginning a Doctoral program in Biochemistry at Northwestern University, Mark returned to his primary passion by studying piano with David Pope, a student of Ernst Von Dohnanyi and Arnold Schultz.

 

At the San Diego Rep: Mark Blitzstein and pianist for “A Cradle Will Rock” “The Dybbuk”,  “Red Noses”, “A Christmas Carol”,“6 Women With Brain Death”, “Long Story Short” and “The Threepenny Opera” for which Mark won the 2009 Craig Noel Award for Musical Direction.

 

Mark was the musical director and accompanist for the Threepenny Opera with the MFA students at UCSD.  He also was the pianist and accordionist for ‘Threepenny’ at the Western Stage in Salinas, CA.

At the La Jolla Playhouse:  Pianist, accordionist, and actor for “Mother Courage” in co-production with the Berkeley Rep, solo pianist for James LaPine’s “Luck , Pluck, and Virtue” with Neal Patrick Harris,  Onstage accordionist and Oronte in “School for Wives” and accompanist for rehearsals for many productions.

As accordionist, Mark has appeared with the Atlanta Symphony, the San Diego Symphony and the Hilton Head Orchestra where he was the soloist for Alan Hovhaness’ “Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.” With the San Diego Opera: onstage accordionist for Barber’s “Vanessa” and also Berg’s “Wozzek” directed by Des MacAnuff   Mark was musical director for “Rip Van Winkle” and “Hansel and Gretel” and accompanist for the Artist in Residence program for the Opera’s Education Department.

 

Mark just was the musical director and pianist for Ion Theatre’s production of Sondheim’s “Passion.”  He also was the accordionist, Klezmer arranger, and accordionist for “Fiddler on the Roof” with Lamb’s Players theater earlier this year.

 

Mark celebrates his 50th year of playing the piano with this performance.