Dr. Mark Clinton is currently Associate Professor of Piano and co-chair of the Piano Area in the UNL School of Music. Since entering the Preparatory Division of the Peabody Conservatory at age eight under the tutelage of Julian Martin, he has worked extensively with some of the world's foremost pianists, among them Leon Fleisher, John Perry, Carlo Zecchi, and Tatiana Nikolayeva. This critically acclaimed pianist has garnered prizes at such prestigious international competitions as the 1987 William Kapell International Piano Competition and the 1991 Joanna Hodges Piano Competition. He has been featured frequently on national radio and television broadcasts, including National Public Radio's Performance Today and Monitor Radio. Critics have noted his "powerful performance [combined with] sublime lyricism" (Salisbury Daily Times) while also praising the "drive and security of his pianism" (Baltimore Sun). He has appeared throughout the United States as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the National Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, Concert Artists of Baltimore, the United States Air Force Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony, and the Springfield (Missouri) Symphony.
For a number of years, Clinton joined with pianist Nicole Narboni to form the highly successful Clinton/Narboni Duo. They received prizes at several major international competitions, including the 1994 ProPiano New York Recital Competition, the 1995 National Federation of Music Clubs Ellis Duo Piano Competition, the 1996 Concorso Internazionale «Carlo Soliva» (four-hand division), and the Alvin Perlman Prize at the Fifth Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition. Clinton and Narboni�s debut compact disc recording (�lan CD #82278), featuring previously unpublished works for two pianos by the French composer Germaine Tailleferre, received critical acclaim in broadcast and print media throughout the United States and abroad. Gramophone magazine honored the recording as an �editor�s choice� selection for the month of November 1997, while describing Clinton and Narboni as �absolutely first rate.� More recently, their recording of works for two pianos by Czech composer Bohuslav Martin� (�lan CD #82422) was hailed by critics as �a major release� and �an indispensable album for devotees of European Modernism.�
Clinton�s current concert activities reflect his commitment to a wide range of performing experiences. Highlights of his recent calendar include an enthusiastically received solo recital at the American Liszt Society 2005 Spring Festival, performances at the 2006 Ameropa International Chamber Music Festival in Prague, an appearance as guest soloist with the Prince George�s (Maryland) Philharmonic, recitals with the newly formed Trio Nuovo (joining with violinist Anton Miller and cellist Karen Becker),a recital of vocal chamber music with mezzo-soprano Anne Donnadieu and the Chiara String Quartet, as well as several performances at the 2006 Illinois Wesleyan University Summer Chamber Music Festival.
Mark Clinton has shared his musical insights with gifted students from around the world while serving on the faculties of Salisbury University, the Aspen Institute, Missouri Southern State University, and the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival in Prague, Czech Republic. Mark Clinton is a Steinway Artist.
