Directory
Piano
American pianist Mark Boozer has received acclaim for his sensitivity, passion, and authority as a performer, his interpretations and advocacy of the music of William Grant Still, and his performances of works by African and African-American composers as well as his mastery of standard repertoire (ranging from Bach to Ginastera). His commitment to artistic excellence has resulted in coast-to-coast performances in the United States, numerous concert premieres, and presentations at the international level. These include the historic international conference on African pianism held at the University of Pittsburgh in 1999; the 2001 American premiere of Gyimah Labi's (Ghana) Symphony Concertante: Baptism By Fire for 3 Pianos and Orchestra with members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; 2nd International Symposium and Festival on Composition in Africa and the Diaspora, Churchill College, the University of Cambridge, England, August 2, 2003;
world premieres of works by Ed Bland (USA), Lena Mclin (USA), Nkeiru Okoye (USA-Nigeria), and Joshua Uzoigwe (Nigeria); appearances at the National Black Arts Festival and on National Public Radio in the United States; and collaborations with outstanding artists like the legendary baritone William Warfield. As one of the earliest champions of Piano Sonata No. 1 by Adolphus Hailstork, Mr. Boozer is among the few but growing number of pianists who count that monumental work among their repertoires. His professional CD recording of William Grant Still's Africa is available through William Grant Still Music in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Mark Boozer began piano studies at an early age with Ruth Young Wilson and Ida Fortune in Bowling Green, Virginia, his hometown. He later received degrees in piano performance: the Bachelor of Music degree (magna cum laude, Honors Program) from Ball State University in Indiana, and the Master of Music degree from Northwestern University in Illinois. His professional teachers and coaches have included Michel Block, John Browning, Jean Charles Kohler, Gui Mombaerts, and Robert Weirich. He resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area, where he is an Associate Professor at Clark Atlanta University.
Upcoming solo recitals:
- 2004 DeBose National Piano Competition Artist, Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, April 2004.
Mark Boozer's CD recording of William Grant Still's Africa:
is available through William Grant Still Music in Flagstaff, Arizona. The CD is bundled with the score of the work, which was published in 2002.To order, contact:
William Grant Still Music, 1109 S. University Plaza Way,
Suite 109, Flagstaff, Arizona
86001-6317 or
wgsmusic@bigplanet.com.
Reviews
- …He is a pianist of the greatest stature…
- William Warfield, baritone
- …communicative and thoroughly professional…an extremely accomplished pianist…a genuine musician [who] rather than using music as a vehicle for his own ego, directs his skills toward finding and conveying the composer's message…
- Atlanta Constitution
- …verve and virtuosity…impressively created nuances of timbre played with passion and authority…
- Charleston Post and Courier
- …a highly gifted pianist and a very sensitive artist…
- Michel Block, concert pianist
- …deep spiritual sensitivity…remarkably powerful and intelligent. He has a big virtuoso technique, he is musical in the best sense, and above all, he communicates to the public…
- John Browning, concert pianist
Contact details and further information
Address postal correspondence to:Mark Boozer
P. O. Box 724942
Atlanta, Georgia 31139
Telephone: 770-955-4254
E-mail Mark Boozer
For further details, see Mark Boozer's website