Mark Menzies

Described in the Los Angeles Times as an ‘extraordinary musician’ and a ‘riveting violinist’, Mark Menzies’ career as a viola and violin virtuoso, chamber musician and pianist, conductor and advocate of contemporary music, and composer, has seen performances in Europe, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and across the United States.

Menzies’ compositions are increasingly played across the globe, with recent premieres in The Netherlands, Italy, Los Angeles, San Diego and Christchurch, where the CSO performed Song of the birds for solo violin, and strings. Featured guest performer/composer at the 2018 SICPP (Summer Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice at the New England Conservatory), performances included Menzies’ glad alemandes (with Stephen Drury, piano), flutter (with Rachel Beetz, piccolo), and six little quartets (with students of the masterclass programme).

Not a ‘career-composer’, Mark Menzies has never-the-less been commissioned and requested by an array of soloists and ensembles: Fisher/McIntosh viola/harpsichord duo; Gayle Blankenburg, pianist; San Diego New Music and the soundON festival; cLoud Collective; 175 East; Wild Up, a Los Angles-based new music ensemble; ensemble proton, bern (Switzerland); Cantori Domino, a choir in Santa Monica; the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra; the Formalist Quartet.