Mark Carlson

(1952 - )

Composer and flutist Mark Carlson is the Founder and Artistic Director of Pacific Serenades. His lyrical, emotionally powerful, and stylistically unique music has earned him the admiration of audiences and musicians throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. A versatile composer, his nearly 100 works include art songs, chamber and choral music, concertos, large ensemble works, and songs for musical theater.

The recipient of more than 50 commissions, Carlson has composed works for among others, the National Shrine in Washington, DC, the New West Symphony, Westwood Presbyterian Church, First Methodist Church of Santa Monica, the UCLA Wind Ensemble, the Santa Monica College Orchestra, and for many individual musicians. His works include Concerto for Trumpet, Piano, and Orchestra, for Jens Lindemann, Jennifer Snow, and the UCLA Philharmonia, and Welcome Winter!, commissioned by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, and Night Music, for the horn quartet, Quadre, with flutist Molly Barth. One of eleven recordings of his works, The Hall of Mirrors, was a winner of the Chamber Music America/WQXR Record Awards for 2001. Sueños y canciones, commissioned by the Mexico City chamber ensemble Signos, appears on their CD Espejo/Mirror. New CDs include his Intermezzo, for alto saxophone and piano (on Centaur, performed by Douglas Masek and Louise Thomas), and Two Ballads (also for Centaur, performed by saxophonist Alan Durst and guitarist Corey Whitehead), Sonata for Cello and Piano (Pacific Serenades), and For Those Silenced on Joanne Pearce Martin’s CD Barefoot (Yarlung). His music is published by Yelton Rhodes Music, Pacific Serenades Music, and C Swigart Music (all in Los Angeles); by Thorpe Music in Boston; and by Black Squirrel Music, in Kent, Ohio.

Carlson is an avid performer of chamber music, including many works written for him. He was a member of the Pasadena Symphony, the YMF Debut Orchestra, and the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.

Born in 1952 in Ft. Lewis, Washington, Carlson grew up in California, attended the University of Redlands, graduated from CSU Fresno, and received MA and PhD degrees in composition from UCLA. His principal teachers were Alden Ashforth and Paul Reale (composition) and Roger Stevens (flute). He is on the faculty at UCLA, where he teaches music theory and composition and also taught at Santa Monica College for many years. He has also taught movement for musicians, having studied with Alexandra and Roger Pierce in Redlands. Since 1982 he has served on the Board of Directors of Design for Sharing, UCLA’s Performing Arts community outreach program. He founded Pacific Serenades in 1982.

Works Performed
Abschied
(1993)
for cello and piano
Commissioned by Dr. & Mrs. Paul A. Carlson for Pacific Serenades
After the Sun Has Set
(1986)
for mezzo-soprano, 2 oboes, clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, tenor saxophone, 2 horns, double bass, harp
in loving memory of Jan Carlson Manley
An American Quintet
(1997)
for 2 violins, 2 violas, cello
Commissioned by Jack & Florence Irving for Pacific Serenades
Batik
(2010)
for violin and piano
Commissioned by contributors to the Paul A. Carlson Memorial Fund for Pacific Serenades
Cave Paintings
(2012)
for alto saxophone, violin, viola, cello, and piano
Commissioned by Ursula Krummel for Pacific Serenades
Sonata for Cello and Piano
(1998)
for cello and piano
Commissioned by Virgil & Lynn Roth for Pacific Serenades
Dream Fantasies
(1999)
for flute, oboe, viola, and piano
Commissioned by Jack & Florence Irving for Pacific Serenades
Fourscore for Morley
(1996)
Commissioned by Janet Benjamin in honor of her husband Morley Benjamin, on the occasion of his 80th birthday
From One Who Stays
(1991)
for mezzo-soprano, flute, cello, and piano
Commissioned by Dr. & Mrs. Paul A. Carlson for Pacific Serenades
The Hall of Mirrors
(1990)
for clarinet and piano
Commissioned by Hope Pompei Freedman for Pacific Serenades
On the Coming of War
(2003)
for viola and piano
Commissioned by Natalie Limonick for Pacific Serenades
Piano Quartet
(1992)
for piano quartet
Commissioned by Elizabeth H. Henderson for Pacific Serenades
Piano Trio
(2001)
for piano trio
Commissioned by Dr. Jack & Florence Irving for Pacific Serenades
Quartet
(1994)
for flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, cello, and piano
Commissioned by Jack & Florence Irving for Pacific Serenades
Serenade No. 2
(1987)
for flute (and piccolo), clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Commissioned by Pacific Serenades
Six Bagatelles
(1995)
for flute and string quartet
Commissioned by David & Carol Carlson for Pacific Serenades
Songs of Rumi
(2007)
for baritone, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Commissioned by Bernice & Wendell Jeffrey for Pacific Serenades
Starry Night
(1989)
for string quartet
Commissioned by Elizabeth H. Henderson for Pacific Serenades
Suite From the Everlasting Bonfire
(1999)
for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and piano
Commissioned by Ursula Krummel for Pacific Serenades
This Is the Garden
(1987)
for baritone and piano
Commissioned by Elizabeth H. Henderson for Pacific Serenades
Twas Brillig
(1982)
for organ
Commissioned by Greg Harrold for the inauguration of his Opus 3 (1980) organ for The Parish of St. Matthew, Pacific Palisades, CA
View From a Hilltop
(2009)
for clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Commissioned by Leavens Ranches
Short Stories
(2005)
for string quartet
Commissioned by Shirley B. Levine for Pacific Serenades
Twilight
(1990)