Episode 32 - Mark Norman

Everything Band Podcast

Mark Norman is the director of bands at the North Carolina School of the Arts, a professional tuba player, and owner of the Charlotte Music School and he brings his wonderfully varied experiences to the podcast in a conversation that takes some unexpectedly informative turns.

Topics:

• Mark’s background, Karel Husa’s Music for Prague 1968, and the Selmer Musical Aptitude Test.
• Creating experiences for his ensembles and a story about David Maslanka.
• Mark’s time in the Navy Band and his journey to becoming a college band director.
• Putting yourself in a position to be successful by being prepared and the kind of person that others want to work with.
• How playing or working with great musicians helps you to understand what a great sound is and why that helps you to demand it of your students.
• Starting a new ensemble or small business and the Charlotte Music School.
• Having a mission statement for each ensemble, knowing some basic business skills, and always making sure the books add up.
• Building trust and never taking anything personally on the podium.

Links:

• Mark Norman
• UNCSA
• UNCG
• Charlotte Music School
• Selmer Music Guidance Survey
• Karel Husa: Music for Prague 1968
• Steven Bryant: Ecstatic Waters
• John Mackey: Frozen Cathedral

Biography:

Mark A. Norman has enjoyed a career spanning thirty years as a conductor and tuba artist. He is currently the Director of Wind Ensembles and the Tuba/Euphonium faculty artist at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Norman has served on the conducting faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Michigan, Washburn University, Towson University and UNC at Greensboro. As a conductor, ensembles under Norman’s direction have performed at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) conference, regional College Band Director National Association (CBDNA) and the state music educators’ conferences in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Kansas. He is a frequent guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and has received critical acclaim for his performances and recordings in the U.S. and England. He is the previous Conductor/Music Director for several professional and community organizations including the American Wind Orchestra, Riverside Wind Symphony and Greensboro Concert Band. Norman is a past tuba performer with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC, Fountain City Brass Band, Washington Brass, Tubas in the Sun Quartet, and the Georgetown, Mt. Vernon and McLean Orchestras. As a tuba soloist and clinician, Norman has performed and presented at national and regional conferences such as the U.S. Army Band Tuba and Euphonium Conference, six international and regional International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA) conferences. Norman holds a D.M.A and M.M. in Instrumental Conducting and a B.M in Tuba Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His primary teachers are John Locke and Kevin Geraldi in conducting and David Lewis on tuba. Norman is the co-owner with his wife, Amanda, of the Charlotte Music School providing private and ensemble music instruction to over 250 students.