Mark Piszczek

Composer, Mark Piszczek (b. 1957) is a native of central Florida where his parents worked in the fledgling space program. A professional performer on both oboe and saxophone, Piszczek has a deep background in both jazz and classical music. He has led his own groups and worked as a studio musician for over twenty five years.
Piszczek's father was a devout fan of classical music and it played daily on the family phonograph. This early exposure to concert music and the presence of highly competent music teachers, instilled a love of music that later turned into a life long passion. The composer cites the music of Karel Husa, Bela Bartok, Miles Davis,Chick Corea and Ralph Towner as key influences in his early musical development. 
Piszczek studied oboe at the University of South Florida and the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. After years of performing professionally as a jazz artist, he decided to return to his classical roots and recieved a masters degree in composition at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, where he studied with composers, Elliott Schwartz and Dan Sonenberg. 
Piszczek now resides in Melbourne Fl. He has written hundreds of jazz compositions, a woodwind quintet, string quartet, four works for chamber orchestra, a brass quintet, a trio for clarinet, viola and piano, a symphony for winds and percussion, two new works for symphony orchestra, a quartet for flute, clarinet, bassoon and piano, a trio for oboe, cello and piano and a flute sonata. He was also a featured artist for his mixed media installation, Chicanery Rows at the inaugural exhibition of the Sue Scott Gallery in New York City. 
When not composing, Piszczek enjoys traveling with his life partner, author, Vanessa Blakeslee and playing with his jazz group Strange Angels.