Profile

Mark began his musical career under the watchful eye of his mother Noeline, who was his first music teacher. After deciding that the violin was not his instrument, Mark concentrated on the clarinet, which he studied under the very inspirational Chris Walker. He also credits his high school music teacher Richard Marrett with instilling high standards and a passion for music. At Rangiora High School he also took up the saxophone. Soon after he saw Mark Walton perform, which sparked his interest for classical saxophone. He moved swiftly into both the teaching and performing sides of the Christchurch music scene and has continued to teach and perform in both classical and jazz genres for the last twenty years. Recently he has also been playing with Tango La Luna and rock band Paper Creatures.

Mark has joined Mike Kime (Acoustic Bass) and John Billington (Film Artist) in new multi-media projects based on classical improvisation with film.

Mark has made a practice of promoting and commissioning new works for his instruments. As a result he has performed works written for him by a variety of New Zealand composers, such as Philip Norman, Anthony Ritchie, Tony Ryan and Eric Biddington, including concertos for soprano saxophone and orchestra, sonatas, saxophone quartets and works for saxophone and string quartet.

Philip Norman is currently working on a new trio for Mark, Sophie Buxton (viola) and Alison C. Holden (piano). Other Australasian composers are planning works for this ensemble in the near future.

Mark has performed in the last 3 Australasian Single Reed Conventions in Australia, in which he, as a soloist, and Aeolus (his saxophone quartet), have presented recitals, always including one or two New Zealand works.

In July 2006 he presented a solo recital at the World Saxophone Congress in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he played Murphy’s Law, written for him by Philip Norman, and Bluster, a new work written for him to play at that event by Christchurch composer Hamish Oliver.

A regular feature in Mark’s calendar is the Mark Hobson and Friends concerts, held mid-year in the Great Hall at The Arts Centre of Christchurch for 17 years now, and more recently also a Picnic Concert in the summer.

• Performances (9)
• Commissions (3)