Contact Information
Biography
Mark Koch's guitar teachers were Hoyt "Slim" Bryant, Joe Negri, Ron Anthony, Joe Carola, Pat Monaco, and Bill Clydsdale. Mark also has studied jazz theory and piano with Robert Doak and composition with Mike Tomaro. He also studied with Pat Martino and appeared with Mr. Martino in the documentary, "Pat Martino: Open Road."
As a performer with various ensembles, Koch has opened for John Scofield, Diane Schuur, Tony Bennett, Emily Remler, Leni Stern, Yellow Jackets, Three Dog Night, Joe Beck, Gene Bertoncini, bassist Michael Moore, Delbert McClinton, Randy Brecker, Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, Stanley Turentine, Concord Jazz Guitar Collective, Turtle Island Quartet, and Kool and the Gang.
He has accompanied and worked with a variety of artists in performances and/or clinics including Max Roach, H.B. Barnum, Frank Gambale, Emily Remler, Tommy Tedesco, John Pisano, Jimmy Bruno, Howard Alden, Seymour Duncan, Steve Dudas, Johnny Hiland, Bob Babbitt, Carol Kaye, Joe Negri, Bill Warfield, Sheryl Bailey, Mike Stern, Tim Eyermann, Little Anthony, Jerry Vale, Charo, Frankie Avalon, Robert Guillaume, Peter Noone, Tommy Roe, Martha Reeves, Al Martino, Jimmy Beaumont, Bobby Rydell, Gianna Russo, Lou Christie, and the PBS My Music Series TV Show with Davey Jones, Roger McGuinn and Mitch Ryder, plus 30 other performers.
From 2000 to 2013, Mark was the Administrative Director of the MENC/NAMM/GAMA (Music Educators National Conference / National Association of Music Merchants / Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association) "Teaching Guitar" in the classroom program, which was created to revitalize the guitar in education. This very successful task force has trained more than 1,000 high school and middle school music teachers across the United States, who, in turn, taught more than 280,000 young guitarists.
Mark also was a founding member of Duquesne University's Guitar & Bass Workshop in 1986 and became Director from 1998-2011.
His solid reputation as a studio musician has led him to recording sessions for US Airways, Pappan Restaurants, the University of Pittsburgh, Roy Rogers, and Four Star Pizza. He has also worked with local radio and TV stations such as WQED, WTAE, WDVE, 3WS and WPXI, as well as a variety of local musician's CD projects.
Koch was the musical supervisor and guitar tutor for the Mel Shapiro's The Lay Of The Land, directed by actress Lee Grant and staring actor Greg Mullavey.
He was also the guitarist for the Pittsburgh Public Theatre Production of The Hairy Ape with musical director and jazz legend Max Roach. The production, directed by George Ferencz, was filmed for the Lincoln Center Archives.
Mark also was a guest speaker in a 2000 City Theatre production of Sideman.
Mark Koch endorses Benedetto Guitars, D'Addario Strings, and Fender Musical Instruments