about Mark Thrall

Mark Thrall is a graduate of Marylhurst University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition, and has a M.A.T. degree in Music from Portland State University, Oregon.

He has studied composition with Tomas Svoboda, Sr. Anne Cecile Daigle, and Sr. Magdalene Fautch, and is a member of the American Music Center and Society of Composers, Inc. His compositions for piano include the suite Seven Moods for Piano, Campanella, a set of ten instructional pieces for the late beginning- early intermediate pianist called Piano Playtime, and a piano duet, Song for New York.

His chamber works include a set of variations for oboe and piano, commissioned by oboist Randy Zasloff in 1990; a piano trio; a trio for flute, piano and 'cello; three Pieces for woodwind quintet; "Introduction and Rondo" for brass quintet; and a three-movement string quartet.

He has also composed two suites for full orchestra, Moods of Nature and Harvest Celebration Dance Suite, as well as a full-length ballet based on H.C. Andersen'd story The Little Match Girl, for chamber orchestra.

His music has been performed in recitals at P.S.U. and Marylhurst, from 1990 to the present; he also participated in the SCI Region VIII Conference in 1999, when his Three Songs for Soprano on Poems by W.B.Yeats was performed.

He has just finished a set of two mystical pieces for SATB chorus with soloists called The Door is Open, with piano or organ accompaniment.

He moved to Oregon from New York City, where he composed music for the dance group Meher Ballet Theater, and participated in performances with them at the Merce Cunningham Studio.

He has studied piano with Sr. Anne Cecile Daigle, and voice with Nancy Olsen-Chatalas and, currently, Jason Andersen. He has participated in many opera productions at P.S.U., including productions of The Bartered Bride, Candide, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Magic Flute.

The video of the P.S.U production of The Marriage of Figaro was the first-prize winner of the National Opera Association award in 2000.