Best Pianist from Every State in the USA

Blair Boone-Migura Thank you so much for sharing this.  Mark is SUCH a lyrical talent!  Where does he live now?

Gail Starr Yes, indeed. Lyrical and such depth. Mark was Jessye Norman's collaborative pianist for 20 years before her death. He lived in France for about a decade in the early-2000s but returned to the US. First he was in New York until about 8 years ago, and is now in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Blair Boone-Migura I wish we could get a video about all the amazing collaborative pianists out there, too.  I  will hunt for some of his work with Jessye Norman.  I had a chance to work with 2 opera singers for the very first time last month and they were simply amazing!

Gail Starr Oh, what a great idea about the amazing collaborative pianists! In addition to Mark, Ammiel Bushakavitz and José Meléndez are wonderful pianists today who play for singers. Then of course there are the legends like Dalton Baldwin, Gerald Moore, Geoffrey Parsons, and the like who have passed away. And, you can easily find other examples on YouTube of Mark Markham both with Jessye Norman or just solo playing. He's done great concerts for the Alliance Française Hawaii and one for the Community Concerts at Second called Dances and Improvisations. Just marvelous! That's wonderful that you have begun working with opera singers! There so many great pianists in this world that aren't household names but truly making exquisite music.

Blair Boone-Migura I just found his lovely Alliance Francaise YouTube.  So cool that you have an Alliance Francaise in Hawaii!

Gail Starr I couldn't agree more. I divide my time between NYC and Hawaii so I always enjoy when I see culture and the performing arts thriving in environments where one might not have first thought about. 

Blair Boone-Migura That sounds simply magnificent.  Best of both worlds!