Profile

An experienced Musical Director, Arranger and Composer with a proven track record in theatre, television, radio and studio production across a wide range of styles from ensemble & orchestral work ro large scale musicals and pantomimes (See Pantomime C.V.)

His considerable experience of working internationally in concert arenas and major theatres across the UK and Ireland, together with his knowledge and contacts with a huge cross section of instrumentalists, places him in a uniquely qualified position.

Education, Training and Qualifications

Queen's University, Belfast 1983-87

B.Mus (Hons) specialising in composition with Kevin Volans (South Africa), Piers Hellawell (England) and John Buller (England) and performance on percussion tutored by Malcom Neale (principal percussionist, Ulster Orchestra)

Career & Achievements to Date

Composer

Promised Land

Promised Land is a new opera commissioned by Canterbury Festival which opened in The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury in October 2006 to great critical acclaim.
With a riveting libretto by Michael Irwin and music composed and conducted by Mark, it is provocative, moving, exciting and controversial.
The story follows the decline of the hopping and mining industries in East Kent, and traces the relationships which developed between two families over a sixty year period.

The Belfast Carmen

Musical play set against the rehearsals of a production of Carmen in Belfast. Featuring Ulster Orchestra, professional and community singers and actors (2002)

Connections

40 Minute suite for 2 guitars and 2 percussion funded by PRS New Music bursary. Commissioned by and performed at Belfast Festival at Queen's (2002)

Probable Cause

Stirling TV commission for Channel Five - 6 documentary programmes (2001)

Dance for the Camera

4 minute dance feature for BBC2 network TV (1999)

Traditional Sounds

Subject of 30 minute documentary for BBC2 network TV about traditional instruments following the composition and performance of a 6 minute piece (1999)

With One Voice

Commissioned by the Ulster Orchestra, funded by Lottery. A one-hour piece in celebration of the Millennium, featuring 1000 strong chorus (2000)

Murder in the Cathedral

Score commissioned by Ulster Theatre Co. Performed in St Anne's Cathedral during Belfast Festival at Queens (1997)

Rockin' Mikado

Rock adaptation of G&S favourite (1998)

Oliver Twist

New musical version BT Studio Christmas (1998)

Scrooge's Christmas

National Lottery Grant Recipient for commission of full score for new adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1997)

Rebellion

Large scale musical about the 1798 United Irishmen for Dockward Community Theatre Group (1997)

Pot Luck, The Rankin Challenge, 10 of the Best

Signature tunes and incidental music. Brian Waddell TV for BBC1, RTE and Channel 4

The Homecoming

A fifty-minute piece for a twelve-piece ensemble commissioned by BBC Radio 2

Back to the City, Just the Ticket, The Paper Suite

All jazz suites for Radio 2 and Radio Ulster.

Musical Director - Theatre & Special Events

Jan - May 2004 On Eagle's Wing (dir. Ian McElhenney, artistic consultant Anthony van Laast)

Musical Associate and Musical Director for this arena sized show touring America in May and returning to Belfast for its European Premiere and DVD recording. This new show traces the journey of the Scots - Irish to the Appalachian Hills using 200 piece choir, 30 dancers, 8 actors, a pipe band and 14 piece stage band - together with pre recorded orchestra tracks. Responsible for all arrangements and direction of music. Also creative input re. structure etc.

July 2000 - Dec 2003 Riverdance - World Tours Europe, Asia & Australasia

Responsible not only for maintenance of all musical performances, but also discipline of the band, choir and soloists and liaison with management and stage management regarding all aspects of the music including rehearsals, understudy and deputy matters and FOH sound.

Nov 2002 Ulster Orchestra

Co-wrote and Conducted 5 performances of original work The Belfast Carmen in The Grand Opera House, Belfast as part of The Belfast Festival at Queens.

April 2000

Composed and Conducted Millennium Celebration With One Voice UO and 1000 strong chorus in Dundonald Ice Bowl - funded by Lottery.

Summer 1999 West Side Story

Ulster Theatre Company Production touring Ireland, Bristol Hippodrome, Manchester Palace and York Opera House.

1998/99 Cast and Orchestra of Les Miserables

A series of Sunday Concerts including Bristol, Edinburgh, Dublin, Birmingham and Southampton.

1990 - Present

The Story Do Far - A full stage show tracing the development of Irish music from dancing a gig to the electric comtemporary sound of Moving hearts etc. First performed at Les Embiez for Jameson Whiskey at the Pernod Ricard AGM Oct 2004.

Peter Corry Concerts at the Ulster Hall, Waterfront Hall, Grand Opera House, Belfast

Uk National Tour of Hollywood and Broadway with Wayne Sleep and Bonnie Langford

Ulster Hall Concerts for Ulster Television

Large and medium scale musicals for Ulster Theatre Co, the Arts Theatre Belfast, First Act Musical Theatre CO., and Bangor Operatic Co.

Pantomime and other shows for Qdos, E&B Productions, Albemarle of London, Apollo Leisure, Barry Clayman Concerts

Belfast City Council Arts Awards, The British Airways Tourism Awards, numerous other corporate and charity functions.

Producer and Arranger - Commercial Recordings

Musican - Commercial Recordings

Musical Supervisor

Productions at Wyvern Theatre, Swindon; Davenport Theatre, Stockport; Cliffs Pavilion, Southend; Beck Theatre, Hayes; Bristol Hippodrome and The Arts Theatre, Belfast.

Other Musicals (keyboards/piano) include

The King & I, White Horse Inn, Me and My Girl, Oliver, Chicago, Cabaret, The Gipsy Baron, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Calamity Jane, The Pajama Game, Showboat, South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Sweet Charity, Singin' in the Rain, The SOund of Music, Salad Days, The Mikado, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, Godspell, Slice of Saturday Night, Copacabana, The Music Man, Gigi, West Side Story.

Musician (non theatre)

The Ulster Orchestra (percussionist), Van Morrison, Johnny Mathis, Howard Keel, Shane McGowan, Suzi Quatro, The Nolans, Dana, Marti Webb, Colm Wilkinson & various local and network TV series and magazine programmes.

Teacher and Educator

MD D'Oyle Carte Education Workshop to many schools.
MD for the Ulster Theatre Company's Musical Theatre Training Courses.
Peripatetic percussion, jazz piano and general musicianship.

Member of Irish Youth Jazz Orchestra (1984-87)