HOUGHTON Mark

Described by Classical Guitar Magazine as 'an outstanding guitarist/composer', Mark Houghton was born in Liverpool in 1959 and began playing guitar at the age of 7. From 1988, Mark studied Classical guitar with Stanley Yates and during this period also received private tuition from Stepan Rak on the performance of Rak's music. Mark was awarded an Associate Diploma in guitar performance from the London College of Music (for which, after receiving high pass marks, he was chosen to play at the annual Lloyd-Webber Medal Concert). In August 2000 Mark won the Chris Kilvington Memorial Prize - held at Dillington Music Festival - for his guitar quartet Symphonic Dance No. 1. In 2007 Mark won the CGML Composition Competition, hosted in Brazil, with his composition 'Aurora' for flute, clarinet and guitar (now published in duet form with Les Productions D'OZ). Mark has a variety of original works published with Les Productions D'OZ, Chanterelle, Mel Bay, Lathkill Music and Corda Music Productions. His works have received premiere performances by leading performers in the classical guitar world.