Mark Taylor(XV)

Mark Thomas Taylor is a composer of music for film, television and the concert stage. A protégé of the legendary composer, percussionist, NEA Jazz Master and MacArthur Fellow Max Roach, Mark's career was additionally enhanced through his work as a heavily in-demand French Hornist with such extraordinary composers as Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill and Muhal Richard Abrams. When he was unfortunately stricken with Embouchure Dystonia bringing his performing career to a halt, composing became Mark's primary pursuit. Since then, Mark has embarked upon a number of ongoing projects including composing contemporary scores for silent films, (the first being Oscar Micheux' Within Our Gates) and a series of horror and comedy shorts for LA's Scrawny Strange Productions in addition to creating music for licensing to television through boutique agencies in NYC, LA and the UK and a series of chamber music commissions. Other recent projects include "Room To Breathe" commissioned by the Oregon Wind Quintet, "Last Days of Coney Island", an animated film by famed animator/director Ralph Bakshi and "It's Not Like He's Never Been There Before", a multi-movement orchestral work, commissioned by Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation.