Mark Carlson


Composer and flutist Mark Carlson is the Founder and Artistic Director of Pacific Serenades. His lyrical, emotionally powerful, and stylistically unique music has earned him the admiration of audiences and musicians throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. A versatile composer, his nearly 100 works include art songs, chamber and choral music, concertos, large ensemble works, and songs for musical theater.

The recipient of more than 50 commissions, Carlson has composed works for, among others, the National Shrine in Washington, DC, the New West Symphony, Westwood Presbyterian Church, First Methodist Church of Santa Monica, the UCLA Wind Ensemble, the Santa Monica College Orchestra, and for many individual musicians. His works include Concerto for Trumpet, Piano, and Orchestra, for Jens Lindemann, Jennifer Snow, and the UCLA Philharmonia, and Welcome Winter!, commissioned by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, and Night Music, for the horn quartet, Quadre, with flutist Molly Barth. One of eleven recordings of his works, The Hall of Mirrors, was a winner of the Chamber Music America/WQXR Record Awards for 2001. Sueños y canciones, commissioned by the Mexico City chamber ensemble Signos, appears on their CD Espejo/Mirror. New CDs include his Intermezzo, for alto saxophone and piano (on Centaur, performed by Douglas Masek and Louise Thomas), and Two Ballads (also for Centaur, performed by saxophonist Alan Durst and guitarist Corey Whitehead), Sonata for Cello and Piano (Pacific Serenades), and For Those Silenced on Joanne Pearce Martin’s CD Barefoot (Yarlung). His music is published by Yelton Rhodes Music, Pacific Serenades Music, and C Swigart Music (all in Los Angeles); by Thorpe Music in Boston; and by Black Squirrel Music, in Kent, Ohio.

Carlson is an avid performer of chamber music, including many works written for him. He was a member of the Pasadena Symphony, the YMF Debut Orchestra, and the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.

Born in 1952 in Ft. Lewis, Washington, Carlson grew up in California, attended the University of Redlands, graduated from CSU Fresno, and received MA and PhD degrees in composition from UCLA. His principal teachers were Alden Ashforth and Paul Reale (composition) and Roger Stevens (flute). He is on the faculty at UCLA, where he teaches music theory and composition and also taught at Santa Monica College for many years. He has also taught movement for musicians, having studied with Alexandra and Roger Pierce in Redlands. Since 1982 he has served on the Board of Directors of Design for Sharing, UCLA’s Performing Arts community outreach program. He founded Pacific Serenades in 1982.


Concerts Performed
  • Smiles of a Summer Day

    Sun, June 26, 2016
    The Home of Mark Freund & Trice Koopman in Pacific Palisades
    Tue, June 28, 2016
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • A Potpourri/PacSer, the Next Generation

    Thu, June 11, 2015
    The West Hollywood City Council Chambers
  • 25/102

    Sat, June 4, 2011
    The Home of Ellen & Harvey Knell (The Blacker House) in Pasadena
    Sun, June 5, 2011
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, June 8, 2011
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • 25/99

    Sun, January 30, 2011
    The Home of Edwin & Leilani Raquel in Fremont Place
    Mon, January 31, 2011
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, February 9, 2011
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • The world is our community

    Sun, February 8, 2009
    at the home of Stephen & Sonya Blake in Valley Glen
    Mon, February 9, 2009
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, February 11, 2009
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • The soul of lyricism

    Sat, May 31, 2008
    at the home of Edwin & Leilani Raquel in Hancock Park
    Sun, June 1, 2008
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, June 4, 2008
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • To the victims of war, a dedication to life

    Sun, January 27, 2008
    at the home of Lucy McCoy & Paul Bacigalupo in Encino
    Mon, January 28, 2008
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, January 30, 2008
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • We all cherish our children’s future

    Sat, April 21, 2007
    at the home of Kimberly Rose & Michael Shannon in La Cañada
    Sun, April 22, 2007
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, April 25, 2007
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • A portal from here to then

    Mon, March 27, 2006
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, March 29, 2006
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • “Music, when soft voices die, vibrates in the memory.” -Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Sun, May 22, 2005
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, May 25, 2005
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • “Such harmony is in immortal souls.” -Shakespeare

    Sun, January 9, 2005
    at the home of Ellene & Harvey Knell in Pasadena (The Blacker House)
    Mon, January 10, 2005
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, January 12, 2005
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • Like a warm zephyr

    Sun, June 6, 2004
    the home of Elyse & Stanley Grinstein in Brentwood
    Sun, June 6, 2004
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, June 9, 2004
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • Blue waves, snowy peaks

    Sun, April 25, 2004
    the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in Brentwood
    Sun, April 25, 2004
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, April 28, 2004
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • The splendor of virtuosity

    Sun, February 2, 2003
    the home of Paul & Martine Verhoeven in Pacific Palisades
    Mon, February 3, 2003
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, February 5, 2003
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • a quilt of many lands

    Sun, March 10, 2002
    the home of Ralph & Norma Wolfstein in Los Feliz
    Mon, March 11, 2002
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, March 13, 2002
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • A Cascade of Gemstones

    Fri, June 22, 2001
    the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in Brentwood
    Sun, June 3, 2001
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, June 6, 2001
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • Aria in Woods and Metals

    Sun, April 16, 2000
    the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in Brentwood
    Sun, April 16, 2000
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, April 26, 2000
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • A Romance with Rhapsody

    Sun, January 31, 1999
    the home of Evan & Ronna Binn in Tarzana
    Mon, February 1, 1999
    The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
    Wed, February 3, 1999
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • Old First Concerts presents Pacific Serenades

    Sun, January 11, 1998
    Old First Church
  • The Three B’s…(and a little Messiaen)

    Sun, April 13, 1997
    the home of Evan & Ronna Binn in Tarzana
    Sun, April 13, 1997
    The Biltmore Hotel
    Wed, April 16, 1997
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • When playful and serious meet

    Sun, March 10, 1996
    the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in Brentwood
    Sun, March 10, 1996
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • From the depths of soul

    Sun, February 4, 1996
    the home of David Speltz & Connie Kupka on Mt. Washington
    Sun, February 4, 1996
    The Biltmore Hotel
    Mon, February 12, 1996
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • The Late Romantic and the romantic 20th century

    Sun, April 23, 1995
    the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in Brentwood
    Sun, April 23, 1995
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • The soul of chamber music-strings and beyond

    Sun, March 19, 1995
    the home of David & Helene Rottapel in Sherman Oaks
    Sun, March 19, 1995
    The Biltmore Hotel
    Sun, April 9, 1995
    The UCLA Faculty Center
  • February Concert

    Sun, February 20, 1994
    the home of Allen & Jane Fink in Burbank
    Sun, February 20, 1994
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • March Concert

    Sun, March 14, 1993
    the home of David & Helene Rottapel in Sherman Oaks
    Sun, March 14, 1993
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • May Concert

    Sun, May 31, 1992
    the home of Bruce & Beverly Gladstone in Sherman Oaks
    Sun, May 31, 1992
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • February Concert

    Sun, February 2, 1992
    the home of Geraldine Schlein
    Sun, February 2, 1992
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • March Concert

    Sun, April 14, 1991
    the home of Aleen Leslie in Beverly Hills
    Sun, April 14, 1991
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • April Concert

    Sun, February 3, 1991
    the home of David & Helene Rottapel in Sherman Oaks
    Sun, February 3, 1991
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • May Concert

    Wed, May 9, 1990
    the home of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Livio in Westwood
    Thu, May 10, 1990
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • February Concert

    Wed, February 28, 1990
    the home of Mark & Lynn Schiffmacher in Sherman Oaks
    Thu, March 1, 1990
    Clark Library
    Thu, March 1, 1990
    Clark Library
  • Mixed Ensemble

    Wed, January 6, 1988
    the home of Helene & David Rottapel in Sherman Oaks
    Thu, January 7, 1988
    The Biltmore Hotel
  • Mixed Ensemble

    Wed, January 21, 1987
    the home of Helene & David Rottapel in Sherman Oaks
    Thu, January 22, 1987
    Morgan-Wixson Theater
  • The Ur-Concert

    Sat, March 6, 1982
    The Home of Lee Burns
    Sun, March 7, 1982
    The Home of Lee Burns