AUSTRALIA COUNCIL: ARTS IN AUSTRALIA: MARK ATKINS (original) (raw)

Mark is a descendant of the Yamijti people of Western Australia and of Irish-Australian heritage. Not only is he a master of the didgeridoo but also a storyteller, song writer, drummer and visual artist. Mark is one of the few players who is able to work across most styles of music as a soloist and ensemble player.

He has performed around the world, working with musicians such as Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Donal Lunney in Ireland, Peter Sculthorpe, James Morrison, Jenny Morris, Phillip Glass, Christine Anu, Tiddas, John Williamson and many more. Mark was featured with the London Philharmonic at a Festival Hall concert, London in 1996.

He is also a prolific instrument maker, making and painting didgeridoos from the logs he collects on trips into the bush north west of his hometown of Tamworth, New South Wales.

Mark was the founding member of 'Kooriwadjula' - (literally black man/ white man) - a contemporary/ traditional performance group that performed widely in festivals, rock venues, universities and schools, touring nationally and internationally.

He has also created, with Aboriginal artist Janawirri Yiparrka, the musical ensemble 'Ankala'. Mark and Janawirri play with a technique of circular breathing which they have developed to a fine art and which allows them to produce a multiplicity of tones - including calls and animal sounds - at several levels simultaneously and without interruption over a period of many, many minutes.

Mark has a long history of performances in Australia including the outdoor venues and major festivals. Internationally his accredited performances include the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, the Heidelberg Festival, Expo '92 Seville Spain, Festival Hall with the London Philharmonic and many shows in Europe including the '98 Rudolstat Tanz and Folk Festival.

In 1999 he was invited to WOMAD (Seattle USA) as visual artist and musician and in 2000 recorded and released Ankala & World Orchestra in Europe on the Network Label. Also in 2000 Mark was a featured artist at the Presentation of the Olympic Team in Belgium at the Memorial IVO-Van Danne.

In 1993 Mark joined the cross-artform, cross-cultural performance ensemble REM Theatre to help create the megamedia event ICON for the Sydney Opera House 20th Birthday Celebrations. He performed a body of original work with the SBS Youth Orchestra and The Sydney Philharmonic, as well as performing on the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

Subsequently he received a fellowship from the NSW Ministry for the Arts and continued to work with REM Theatre Company as a musician, composer and music director on a number of productions including Story of the Firechild, Music Tree, Buralga and Kickin' Up the Dust.

In 1999 Mark toured Europe with a new music theatre creation by REM Theatre called toteMMusic which premiered at the prestigious Lucerne International Music Festival in Switzerland and showcased in Australia at the 2000 Performing Arts Market.

In 2000 Mark was featured with Charlie McMahon and Gondwana band at the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Sydney. In 2001 Mark has toured with ConSpiritOz (Musica Viva) to Malaysia and in Europe with music partner Daniel O'Shea.

In July he featured at an Australian Festival produced by the Seoul Arts Centre in Korea and world premiered his collaboration with Phillip Glass in Melbourne at the Melbourne Town Hall and in New York at the Lincoln Centre. He was invited to stay in New York and record as session musician on Godfrey Reggio's next Glass collaboration Nongysqatsi.

As an artist Mark has exhibited in Japan, Europe, and USA both in contemporary and traditional styles.
Mark has numerous recordings and compositions to his credit and is a regular on the QANTAS inflight entertainment program. His awards and achievements include the 'Golden Didgeridoo' for the Tamworth Festival.

Mark is a father of five, grandfather of one and lives with his wife on a horse property in outback Australia.

To book Mark Atkins contact his agent Marguerite Pepper Productions Pty Ltd by email info@mpproductions.com.au