Mark McKnight

Mark McKnight is a 25 year old guitarist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Initially playing rock music Mark turned to jazz at 19 having been awarded a scholarship from the Arts Council of Ireland to study at the Skidmore Jazz Institute, NY. The following year Mark attended Berklee College of Music on scholarship from which he graduated in 2006, receiving two awards for outstanding musicianship. Since returning to Ireland Mark has established himself as one of the country's leading young jazz musicians and in addition played with some of the island's most respected classical and concert orchestras, being featured as a soloist in national broadcasts with both the Ulster and RTE Concert Orchestras. Having toured widely throughout Ireland, the U.K. and Europe playing both his own music and being featured in the groups of visiting American artists such as Will Vinson, David Smith and Benny Lackner, Mark has played at the Galway, Glasgow and Montreux Jazz Festivals to name only. In July 2008 Mark was awarded 3rd place in the prestigious Montreux International Jazz Guitar Competition. During the rest of this year Mark will be maintaining a busy performance schedule with tours in both Ireland and Europe (see gig listings above for details), continuing his PhD (in Jazz Performance) and, this November, recording his debut album as a leader in NYC featuring Sam Yahel on piano.