Photo: Supplied
Mark Walton is a New Zealand composer, clarinet and saxophone player who now lives in Australia. He is back in Aotearoa to do eight interviews for his YouTube series Aotearoa Musical Treasures and to perform as a soloist with Resonance Ensemble Orchestra in Christchurch on Sunday 25 June.
Mark was born with failing eyesight and was educated in the mainstream schooling system.“The problems I had were not to do with the clarinet but to do with my eyesight. It's been a challenge but also the making of me”. He soon realised playing in orchestras wouldn't be a long term fit instead focusing on work as a soloist and in ensembles.
In 2005 Mark Walton was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to Music Education in Australia. He has spent many years teaching in New Zealand, the outback of Australia and even Afghanistan at the National Institute of Music Winter Academy in Kabul. Telling Bryan Crump, “I want music to be available to everyone… I think that's really important”
He spoke to Bryan about the shock redundancies at universities across the country, teaching students online and why he continues to call New Zealand home.
