Mark Mesarch's World

My one selfish indulgence. I have way too many CD's and old LPS. But music is one way I can get away from the world. From folk to bluegrass to classical to showtunes to new age.

I started playing the violin at 9 and added the tenor saxophone at 13. I sang a little bit in choir in elementary school, but was on the math and science track in school so could not also do choir. In my junior year of high school I took music theory thinking I wanted to be a music teacher. I didn't have a piano at home so I never really had the training that would have helped with the theory. So off to a meteorology degree instead. But I did have the marching band bug and we had a really good one in high school.

In college, I just assumed I could make the Penn State Marching Blue Band. Wrong. I was devastated that first week of college. But the director then was more into a brass band and saxes were cut to less than 12 in over 250 people. And NO CLARIENTS! So I was out of luck.

But then my stand partner in the Symphony convinced me to audition for the concert choir. I was inducted into the world of classical choral music in a big way. I sang with 250 people with the Pittsburgh Symphony directed by Andre Previn. We sang one piece that was over an hour long. Berlioz's Requiem. It is one of my most memorable experiences in college.

When I moved the Nebraska for graduate school, I checked in with the Cornhusker Marching Band. They took grad students and the director received several of his degrees from Penn State. Much to my advisor chagrin, I made the band and had a blast. Even marched in the Orange Bowl parade and game.

I don't play the violin really at all anymore. The sax now and then in Cornhusker Alumni Marching Band. I sing with the Lincoln Civic Choir which sings often with the Lincoln Symphony and have had a chance to sing many astounding works. I also sing occasionally on stage, so check out my theatre section.

Search my music & concert database.