Dr. Mark Taylor, Composer In Residence

Mark A. Taylor is a musician with many interests.  He is a composer, teacher, and cellist.  While he has explored several genres, he is primarily an instrumental composer writing both professional and educational works.  Compositions have earned awards for creativity, contributions to new music, and editor’s choice but the most rewarding part of writing for him is hearing performers bring the music to life and the impact on audience members. He enjoys collaborating with and often guest conducting the ensembles that commission him to write for their ensembles. In 2014, he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, studying under Dr. Glenn Smith.

Dr. Taylor teaches orchestra at Centreville High School in Clifton, VA. He has been named Teacher of the Year by the Virginia branch of the American Strings Teachers Association (VASTA), Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) for Region 5, and the Fairfax Arts Council for Education (FACE). Eric Whitacre featured Dr. Taylor as Teacher of the Week for his work with students on “The Gratitude Project” during the COVID pandemic. He has guest conducted across the Commonwealth of Virginia, presented research and given clinics on teaching composition and new music to fellow music educators, and taught elementary through graduate level students. 

As a cellist, primary teachers include F. Wayne Taylor, Brigitta Gruenther and Loran Stephenson.  He now maintains a private cello studio of his own.  In addition to doing freelance cello work, Dr. Taylor plays in small chamber ensembles, is cellist for the Haase Quartet, and performs in the Friends and Family Chamber Orchestra under the direction of his father.

Dr. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Music degree from George Mason University with high distinction in 2002, receiving the Creativity in Music Award for his class.  In 2004, he earned his Master of Music Education degree from Shenandoah Conservatory.  The first D.M.A. Composition student to graduate from George Mason University, Dr. Taylor was also granted the Achievement Award at the College of Visual and Performing Arts Convocation in 2014.  His work in research and composition has been presented at statewide music education conferences.

When he is not making music, Dr. Taylor enjoys spending time with his family and riding his bike wherever the roads might take him.  While he once took an unsupported bike trip from Virginia to Alabama to raise scholarship money for his students, most trips encompass a much smaller radius. He, wife Holly, daughter Jacqueline, and son Curtis reside in Centreville, Virginia.