Dr. Mark Andrew Cook

Dr. Mark Andrew Cook came to Shepherd University in 2005 as the Director of Jazz Studies, a special faculty position created under the auspices of the Friends of Music and the University. He now serves as Director of Music Theory and Composition and continues to serve on the Jazz faculty. From 2001-2006 he was a member of the Theory Faculty and the Jazz Ensemble Director in the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America. Concurrently (01-03) he served as an adjunct music theory faculty member at Towson University. From 1986-2001 he was an Associate Professor of Music at Montgomery College, where he directed the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensembles through 1995. From 1996 to 1999 Dr. Cook served as Music Director and Conductor for the Montgomery College Symphony Orchestra. In addition to conducting academic performances during semesters, he conducted children's outreach and community concert performances, as well as other chamber orchestra concerts. He also conducted (or was Music Director for) The Robert Parilla Performing Arts Center Mainstage and Summer Dinner Theater productions of Evita, Once Upon a Mattress, Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, The Boys from Syracuse, and Chess.

Dr. Cook teaches Music Theory, Aural Skills, History of Jazz, History of American Popular Music, Jazz Lab, and Applied subjects including trumpet, Jazz piano and improvisation, conducting, composition (both Jazz and concert music), and has served as a Jazz vocal coach. From 1986 to 2005 he served the Maryland State Unit, International Association of Jazz Educators, Summer Jazz Consortium, first as a clinician, then as Director (from 1992). He returned to SJC as a clinician in 2007, and continues to serve as Co-Director. At Shepherd University he directs the annual Shepherd University Music Department Jazz Camp.

He served as Treasurer for the Maryland Unit of IAJE, was an ex-officio member of that organization’s board (continuing to serve on the reconstituted Maryland Unit Board), and served on the Mid-Atlantic IAJE Conference Planning Committee. He also served as representative (from Montgomery College and from Catholic University) to the Council for Higher Education in Music. Dr. Cook is an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the region. Former students have garnered many awards and honors, including scholarships, grants, and the Billie Holiday Jazz Vocal Competition.

An active composer, his woodwind trio (written for the Shepherd University Faculty Woodwind Trio) was recently premiered, and his piano sonata (composed for one of Shepherd’s nationally recognized students) will soon be published. His piano suite, Lichfield Recollections, is being edited prior to publication as well. Recent compositions and commissions include Sonata for Trumpet, Pas de deux for Trumpet and Flute, The Widow’s Watch for Soprano and Piano, and liturgical music. He is currently at work on a chamber symphony.

Dr. Cook holds a B.M.ed. from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University (where he studied trumpet under Donald R. Tison, past Principal, BSO), an M.A. in Musicology (Music Theory), and a Ph.D. in Music Theory from The Catholic University of America. He studied composition under Gerald Francis Muller, conducting under Robert Wayne Ricks and studied theory subjects under George Thaddeus Jones, Dr. Ricks, Paul Garvin Taylor and Steven Strunk. He studied music history under Dr. Cyrilla Barr and Dr. Ruth Steiner.

His thesis examines music of the Aesthetic Research Ensemble (composers and inventors Alec Bernstein and Daniel Carney), whose compositions employ semi-automated acoustic media. His dissertation examines proportional design (GS proportions) and set content in the musical apotheosis of Paul Hindemith, Symphony Die Harmonie der Welt. In addition to his formal training, Dr. Cook also pursued additional studies in recording studio engineering and radio (having held an FCC broadcasting license), Jazz studies with the legendary Bill Potts, as well as theory and Jazz with Dr. James Vincent Badolato.

As a performer, Dr. Cook has played trumpet in various ensembles and settings, including the Mt. Vernon Chamber Orchestra, the Trinity (Georgetown) Chamber Orchestra, the MC Symphony Orchestra (principal), the MC/Rockville English Brass Band (solo cornet and flugelhorn), and the Camerata Brass Quintet. He has numerous arranging and composing credits, most recently for Chris Vadala's CD, Out of the Shadows.

As a Jazz pianist, Dr. Cook performs extensively throughout the region, and with the Shepherd University Faculty Jazz, featuring drummer Ronnie Shaw and bassist David Marsh (of the Three Mo’ Tenors). He also leads his own group Set Theory, whose CD, Prime Form, has received critical acclaim. He has performed with Bill Potts, Chris Vadala, Jamey Aebersold, Vaughn Nark, Tim Eyermann's East Coast Offering, Mike Crotty and Deater O'Neill, Rufus Reid, Scott Ambush (Spyro Gyra bassist), Bob James, J.R., Monterose, along with many others, and played exactly four choruses of the blues with the legendary Al Cohn.

Call or write:
Dr. Mark Andrew Cook
Department of Music and Theater
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
304.876.5115 or 800.344.5231 ext. 5115