Mark Attebery
Mark Attebery composes primarily in two musical genres: for choreographers in the dance world and for music educators and students. Mark received his BA in music from California State University Hayward and his MA in Interdisciplinary Arts Education from San Francisco State University.
Before moving to New York, Mark was active on the West Coast dance scene. He received three commissions from the Oakland Ballet: The Unraveling choreographed by Mario Alonzo, plus Witness and The Emperor and The Nightingale choreographed by Michael Lowe. Mark's long collaboration with ex-Twyla Tharpe dancer John Malashock and Malashock Dance & Company resulted in four commissions: Departure of the Youngsters, Stan's Retreat, Apologies from the Lower Deck which won a choreographic EMMY from a KPBS documentary and Virtues in Bewilderment written for the Arioso Wind Quintet.
Mark has received grants from Meet the Composers, Inc., the San Diego Arts Commission, and the Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation. A CD collection of dance compositions, Cactus on Mars, has been recorded and released on the Thin Air record label. Mark has also toured and recorded with The Burnt Earth Ensemble comprised of musicians playing exclusively on ceramic instruments. Mark's music is included in a new book and CD on the history and performance of ceramic instruments from around the world, From Mud to Music by Barry Hall, published by the American Ceramic Society. Mark's large collection of flutes from around the world often make their way into his dance compositions, live performances, and guest appearances.
For several years Mark has also been composing and arranging for school ensembles. He has worked as an orchestrator/arranger for Walnut Creek Civic Arts Young Performers String Orchestra, as well as public and private schools in California, Oregon and New York. Mark is director of the Middle School Band and the High School Wind Ensemble at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in Bronx, New York.