Mark received his Bachelors of Music degree in Bass Performance from Minot State University in North Dakota under Dr. Erik Anderson. He then went on to earn his Masters degree in Bass Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under John Van Lierop of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Tom Martin, former Principle Double Bass of the London Symphony Orchestra. While in Scotland, Mark won an apprenticeship competition for the privilege to perform with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He has also played in masterclasses for internationally recognized soloists Yehuda Hanani and Joel Quarrington. Mark and his wife Maggie both happily perform and teach music together in Portland, Oregon.