BIO

Mark Vance is a composer and music educator, living in Nevada City, California. He has played an extensive role composing, teaching, coaching, arranging, conducting and promoting music throughout his community in the rural California foothills. Composer, William Jay Sydeman, calls Vance a “21st century kapellmeister living in Nevada City, in charge of making music throughout the town”.

Vance grew up in musical home. His mother was an accomplished violinist, pianist and a beloved high school choir teacher. Vance recalls “There was always music in our house. There were violin and piano students coming for lessons every day after school.

We always sang together in the car, even on trips to the market.” There was so much music in our home and it seemed so normal. I think I was about 8 years old when I realized that not every home had a piano and people didn’t sing together in the car.

Fundamentally a composer and educator, Vance has studies in piano, voice, clarinet, flute and saxophone. Notables he has studied with include: Pierre Boulez, Aaron Copland and Gunther Schuller, as well as Robert McFerrin (voice). Vance attended Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

He has served as Executive Director of the Nevada County Composers Cooperative since 2003. The mission of NCCC is to foster the creation of new music and help facilitate the performances of these new works.

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Vance currently works for InConcert Sierra as Education Director in charge of creating, implementing and teaching music education programs. Please see Education section below for more information.

Vance has received grants from California Arts Council and the American Composers Forum. He has also received numerous commissions from InConcert Sierra, Music in the Mountains, Twin Cities Concert Association, and many private sources.

Vance is published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing and C. Alan Publications. His CDs “It’s About Time!” and “God, I Love Chamber Music!” are available on CD Baby and iTunes.  

Vance lives in Nevada City with his wife, Estelle, and their two goldfish.