Mark Steinert's Biography

Mark Steinert

Steinert began formal classical lessons at age seven from several local piano teachers, continuing through until he was eleven. Through the recommendation of his middle school band teacher Pat Conley, Steinert contacted local musician Dave Adams from Virginia Beach, Virginia for lessons. Adams, a dedicated and experienced high school band teacher, introduced Steinert to jazz, giving him lessons and including him in Adams’ New Mexico-born “Young Razzcals Jazz Project.” Throughout his stay with the ‘Razzcals until he was 14, Adams introduced Steinert to the recording studio, the jam session, and the stage, complete with some of today’s most recognized artists, including Ray Brown, Terence Blanchard, Kevin Eubanks, Jon Hendricks, Peter Nero and others.

When Steinert was 14, he was accepted to attend Virginia’s Governor’s School for the Arts, a regional visual and performing arts secondary school operating out of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Steinert’s interest in jazz accelerated as he spent his afternoons at Governor’s School surrounded by those sharing the same musical devotion as he did. Steinert, 17, will be starting his senior year at Governor’s School with hopes to attend college up north around New York or Boston.

On June 11, 2007, Mark will be one of the recipients of the coveted ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards. See press release below *

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For more information see Mark's official website at http://www.marksteinert.com

2007 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award Recipients Announced

Honorees to be Recognized at ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame Ceremonies on June 11, 2007 in NYC

Contact: Pauline Stack

212-621-6278

New York, February 1, 2007; ASCAP Foundation President Marilyn Bergman has announced the recipients of the 2007 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards. This program, established in 2002, was created to encourage gifted jazz performers throughout the United States. The recipients, who range in age from 12 to 29, are selected through a juried national competition. They receive cash awards and will be recognized at the annual ASCAP Jazz Wall event which will take place in the Allen Room of the Frederick P.Rose Hall Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on June 11.

Commenting on the awards, Marilyn Bergman said, “The young jazz creators recognized through this program represent the future of this uniquely American art form. We congratulate the recipients and extend thanks to the dedicated panel of ASCAP composers who selected the honorees.” 23 Young Jazz Composers were selected by ASCAP composers/judges Shelly Berg, John Fedchock and Wycliffe Gordon.

The Young Jazz Composer Awards are in their second year of sponsorship by the Gibson Foundation, established by Gibson Guitar Corp, to expand the company’s charitable activities. The Gibson Foundation supports The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards in fulfillment of its commitment to educational excellence through music and arts.

This year’s ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award recipients, ages 18-29, are Fabian Almazan, 22 (New York, NY), Patrick Cornelius, 28 (Astoria, NY), George Dulin, 28 (New York, NY), Morgan Jones, 19 (Los Angeles, CA), Ross LaFleur, 25 (Rochester, NY), Pascal Le Boeuf, 20 (Santa Cruz, CA), Remy Le Boeuf, 20 (Santa Cruz, CA), Bob Reynolds, 29 (Astoria, NY), Joshua Richman, 20 (Hatfield, PA), Robert Rodriguez, 29 (New York, NY), Sherisse Rogers, 28 (Brooklyn, NY), Nikos Syropoulos, 18 (Wynnewood, PA), Manuel Valera, 26 (Brooklyn, NY), Joshua Vande Hey, 29 (Leiceshire, UK), and Ezra Weiss, 28 (Scottsdale, AZ).

The youngest ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers, ages 12-17, are Lee Forest Dynes, 17 (OH), Grace Kelly, 14, (MA), Jimmy Macbride, 15, (CT), Chase Morrin, 12, (CA), Matt Savage, 14, (NH), Jon Snell, 15, (IA), Mark Steinert, 17, (VA), and Ted Taforo, 16 (CA).

Composers receiving Honorable Mention are: Jordan Baker, 17, (LA), Alexander A. Brown, 19, (Jamaica Plain, MA), Michael Dease, 24 (New York, NY), Ethan Herr, 28 (North Haledon, NJ), Eric Hirsh, 22 (Durham, NC), Randy Ingram, 28 (Brooklyn, NY), Stefaan Schulze, 27 (New York, NY), and Jaleel Shaw, 28 (Paterson, NJ).