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| Mark Alan Taggart (b. 1956) is a saxophonist, composer and conductor, currently serving as composer-in-residence at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. He received his early training at The University of Louisville where he studied saxophone with Lee Patrick, and composition with Dan Welcher. In 1983, Taggart completed his doctorate at Cornell University where he was a composition and conducting student of Pulitzer Prize winning composer Karel Husa.
As a saxophonist, Taggart has had a number of substantial works dedicated to him; most notably Brian Israel's Sonata, and Steven Stucky's Notturno. His intimate familiarity with the saxophone combined with exceptional compositional gifts have resulted in a number of outstanding compositions of his own for saxophone including the Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Orchestra, A Round O' Trios for alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, Two Sad Songs for saxophone ensemble, and Lament and Credo also for large saxophone ensemble. While Taggart has contributed generously to the saxophone repertoire, his work is not limited to that medium. He has also written a number of chamber works for various instruments and voice, as well as works for symphonic band and symphony orchestra. Taggart's music is quite varied in content and always demonstrates impeccable skill and sincere emotion. In a recent issue of the Saxophone Journal, Lee Patrick wrote: "His music is like the man: raw emotions are expressed with little or no transition between them. He is not one for compromise; he rarely takes the middle ground. Mark is a creature of extremes. Whatever he does, he doe with total dedication and commitment." |
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