Mark Sylvester

Mark is a musician, composer, producer and music instructor based in Takoma Park, Maryland. As a solo guitarist, Mark performs a broad range of instrumental music, including original compositions from his 2003 CD, American Gypsy . (Listen to "Caravan" and "Cathedral" above.) Mark also performs as a member of The Great Noise Ensemble , a Washington, DC-based new music group. He plays guitar, banjo and mandolin with Great Noise, and the group has premiered several of Mark's newest works for banjo and small ensemble. (Listen to excerpts from "Banjo Trio 1" and "Banjo Trio 2" above.)
Mark is active in the Washington area's folk and acoustic music scene, and he has earned three WAMMIE nominations (2005, 2006, 2007) for contemporary folk instrumentalist. A sought-after accompanist on guitar, bass, banjo and mandolin, Mark performs and records with many of the area's singer/songrwriters, including:
- Verlette Simon
- Sense of Wonder
- Iain Campbell Smith
- Greta Ehrig
- Sarah Fridrich
Mark is also a member of the avant-folk group, Tree Surgeons .
Mark is a Company Associate of The Only Animal , a theatre company based in Vancouver, BC. He composed the music for their 2005 production of Other Freds , and his score was nominated for a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award . Mark is currently working with The Only Animal on the creation of NiX , Canada's first theatre of snow and ice. In addition to composing and recording the music for NiX, Mark will be the show's musical director for its run in early 2009.
Mark maintains an active teaching schedule throughout the year. He gives private lessons on guitar, banjo, mandolin and bass in a broad range of styles.