Mark Priest

Available

Likes to play music well-prepared and -cooked.
Alphabetized: Afro-beat (esp. Mbalax), Classical (from Bach to Wagner), "Symphonic Rock" (a.k.a. Prog), Franco-Caribbean (Kompa/Zouk), Funk, R & B and Soul.
Keyboards: Piano, Organ, Synthesizer
Vocals: Background unisons and harmonies, mainly.
Lived in New York for 9-years, currently residing near Hartford, Connecticut (sometimes commutes to the City for professional activities)
Favorite Musical Subjects: Music Theory, Counterpoint & History; his favorite "classical" composers are Richard Strauss and Gabriel Fauré
Languages: English, French (fluent), Kreyol (fluent), Spanish (a little), German (very little), Dinka (even less).
Favorite Non-Musical Subjects: Objectivism; railroads; 19th century fiction; Star Trek ("fascinating")
One more cool "about": Experienced Professional Driver (holding a current Class A CDL, tractor-trailor, doubles/triples and tanker endorsements) - A Real Road Warrior!

Member ASCAP
Recording Debut: Ramsey Lewis, "Les Fleurs" (1983)
Favorite Touring Bands: Magnum Band; Mizik Mizik
First Piece: "Perpetual Space" (for his high school jazz big band)
Recent Works: "Parasites Lost" (chamber orchestra); "Interchanges" (solo harp); "Tension, Detention" (Viola/Cello duo); "Global Eyes" (bossa); "Cool People" (fusion); "The Sky Ain't the Limit" (kompa)
Has over thirty years of music-related experience ("mostly at night")
"Day-job": Freelance foreign language interpreter/translator (French/Creole/English)

Earned an MA in Musicology (Brooklyn College), and
BS with high honors in music, + a "minor" in French (NYU)
Has been invited to teach on occasion as an "adjunct lecturer" at Brooklyn College, CUNY.

Hammond XK-2 + Motion-Sound speakers; several Alesis, Korg, Kurzweil, Roland and Yamaha synths and/or digital pianos.

Excellent sight-reader of both charts and notated scores.
Music Software: Sibelius (PC and Mac) and Digital Performer (Mac)

New York
Massachusetts
Connecticut

Voice - Backing
Synthesiser
Piano
Keyboard
Hammond Organ
hand percussion

Sony / Columbia

French
English

Would you consider staff positions as well as freelance work?: yes
Do you have a driver's license?: yes