BIO

Mark Zurawinski is a Toronto-based percussionist, drummer and improviser with an eclectic palette, and fondness for left field music which takes him to interesting and diverse sonic places - from contemplative chamber music to free-jazz freakouts, pan-aegean folk grooves to digital noise. Mark has a keen interest in exploring the fluidity of texture and time, and the space where composition and improvisation meet.

Mark can be found performing in Toronto's vibrant creative music scene as a member of: Regeneration Trio, DUST, Alaniaris, Octopus, The Imaginary Percussion Ensemble, Earthlight, Fish with an 'F', leader of Out to Lunch! and collaborating with many other musicians, dancers and artists. Mark has performed at many key Canadian music hubs; the Guelph Jazz Festival the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, SuperMusique Series, The Music Gallery, and has shared the stage with many internationally acclaimed musicians including William Parker, Jean Derome, Gino Robair, Fred Frith, Gordon Grdina, Martin Tétreault, Allison Cameron, and John Oswald.

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario where he began his musical life playing with punk and indie rock bands, Mark moved south to tour and to study music at the University of Guelph. Moving to Toronto in 2007 to attend a Masters program at York University, Mark quickly became a key member of the city’s creative music scene and an in-demand musician for groups ranging from surf-rock to Balkan jazz fusion.

Mark is grateful to have studied with mentors Jesse Stewart, Ellen Waterman and master percussionists Trichy Sankaran, and Jim Blackley. He also enjoys sharing his musical journey with his own students as a private percussion instructor.

As a teacher, Mark is currently providing professional private drum lessons to students of all ages from his home studio and also teaching group percussion classes at the Regent Park School of Music.

Photos: (top) Yuske Furutate, (bottom) Germaine Liu