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Mark Francis was born in 1990 in Aylesbury. He began composing at the piano at the age of 12 and soon after performed one of his compositions for solo piano at the internationally acclaimed "Chethams School of Music Summer School for Pianists". His formal Composition training began in 2006 when he accepted a bursary to study at the Junior School of the Royal Northern College of Music where he studied Composition with Gavin Wayte and Matthew Sergeant, and won the "John Wray, Most outstanding contribution to the Junior School" award upon leaving in July 2008. In September 2008, Mark accepted a scholarship to study on the Joint Principal Study course (composition and performance) at the Royal Northern College of Music with Gary Carpenter and Larry Goves. Highlights so far have included a commission for RNCM's Wind Weekend - "Cedar, for Massed Wind Ensemble" - in 2009, a commission for the 35th "Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte di Montepulciano" in Italy 2010 - "Two Miniature Fanfares"- and a commission for the 2011 RNCM Chamber Music Festival. Mark was also awarded the RNCM's "Terence Greeves Prize for Big Band Composition" in 2009
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