Mark was born and raised in Elgin, Illinois, where his early musical training included piano, violin, ‘cello, and organ. He received BM and MM degrees in organ performance from Indiana University. AIO member Tom Wood was an important influence during his undergrad days. After a stint as organist/choirmaster, he apprenticed as voicer with Visser-Rowland in Houston. His mentors there included Patrick Quigley and Tom Turner. Subsequently, Mark worked as project manager for Rosales Organ Builders Opus 17 at King of Glory Lutheran in Dallas.

For nearly 25 years, he was Head Voicer at Schoenstein & Co. He played a key role in the artistic development of some of Schoenstein’s signature stops, including the Symphonic Flute, Solo Fife, and high pressure strings and diapasons. He was featured in a video produced by San Francisco’s Exploratorium in its Resonance series of videos where he demonstrated the ease of voicing organ pipes.

Mark has served the AIO in many ways:
  • Local chair of the 2015 San Francisco convention
  • Treasurer of the 1995 San Jose convention
  • Education Committee member for many years
  • Board Secretary from 2002-08
  • Voicing instructor at two AIO voicing seminars
  • Member of Bylaws revision committee 2018-19
  • Executive Secretary as of July 2019
He received the Colleague (Journeyman) Certificate in 1990. Although Mark greatly enjoys organs and organbuilders, he really would rather be hiking at high elevation in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.