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, 2016The Home of Mark Freund & Trice Koopman in Pacific PalisadesTue, June 28, 2016The UCLA Faculty CenterA Potpourri/PacSer, the Next Generation
Thu, June 11, 2015The West Hollywood City Council Chambers25/102
Sat, June 4, 2011The Home of Ellen & Harvey Knell (The Blacker House) in PasadenaSun, June 5, 2011The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, June 8, 2011The UCLA Faculty Center25/99
Sun, January 30, 2011The Home of Edwin & Leilani Raquel in Fremont PlaceMon, January 31, 2011The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, February 9, 2011The UCLA Faculty CenterThe world is our community
Sun, February 8, 2009at the home of Stephen & Sonya Blake in Valley GlenMon, February 9, 2009The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, February 11, 2009The UCLA Faculty CenterThe soul of lyricism
Sat, May 31, 2008at the home of Edwin & Leilani Raquel in Hancock ParkSun, June 1, 2008The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, June 4, 2008The UCLA Faculty CenterTo the victims of war, a dedication to life
Sun, January 27, 2008at the home of Lucy McCoy & Paul Bacigalupo in EncinoMon, January 28, 2008The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, January 30, 2008The UCLA Faculty CenterWe all cherish our children’s future
Sat, April 21, 2007at the home of Kimberly Rose & Michael Shannon in La CañadaSun, April 22, 2007The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, April 25, 2007The UCLA Faculty CenterA portal from here to then
Mon, March 27, 2006The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, March 29, 2006The UCLA Faculty Center“Music, when soft voices die, vibrates in the memory.” -Percy Bysshe Shelley
Sun, May 22, 2005The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, May 25, 2005The UCLA Faculty Center“Such harmony is in immortal souls.” -Shakespeare
Sun, January 9, 2005at the home of Ellene & Harvey Knell in Pasadena (The Blacker House)Mon, January 10, 2005The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, January 12, 2005The UCLA Faculty CenterLike a warm zephyr
Sun, June 6, 2004the home of Elyse & Stanley Grinstein in BrentwoodSun, June 6, 2004The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, June 9, 2004The UCLA Faculty CenterBlue waves, snowy peaks
Sun, April 25, 2004the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in BrentwoodSun, April 25, 2004The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, April 28, 2004The UCLA Faculty CenterThe splendor of virtuosity
Sun, February 2, 2003the home of Paul & Martine Verhoeven in Pacific PalisadesMon, February 3, 2003The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, February 5, 2003The UCLA Faculty Centera quilt of many lands
Sun, March 10, 2002the home of Ralph & Norma Wolfstein in Los FelizMon, March 11, 2002The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, March 13, 2002The UCLA Faculty CenterA Cascade of Gemstones
Fri, June 22, 2001the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in BrentwoodSun, June 3, 2001The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, June 6, 2001The UCLA Faculty CenterAria in Woods and Metals
Sun, April 16, 2000the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in BrentwoodSun, April 16, 2000The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, April 26, 2000The UCLA Faculty CenterA Romance with Rhapsody
Sun, January 31, 1999the home of Evan & Ronna Binn in TarzanaMon, February 1, 1999The Neighborhood Church in PasadenaWed, February 3, 1999The UCLA Faculty CenterOld First Concerts presents Pacific Serenades
Sun, January 11, 1998Old First ChurchThe Three B’s…(and a little Messiaen)
Sun, April 13, 1997the home of Evan & Ronna Binn in TarzanaSun, April 13, 1997The Biltmore HotelWed, April 16, 1997The UCLA Faculty CenterWhen playful and serious meet
Sun, March 10, 1996the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in BrentwoodSun, March 10, 1996The Biltmore HotelFrom the depths of soul
Sun, February 4, 1996the home of David Speltz & Connie Kupka on Mt. WashingtonSun, February 4, 1996The Biltmore HotelMon, February 12, 1996The UCLA Faculty CenterThe Late Romantic and the romantic 20th century
Sun, April 23, 1995the home of John & Barbara McLoughlin in BrentwoodSun, April 23, 1995The Biltmore HotelThe soul of chamber music-strings and beyond
Sun, March 19, 1995the home of David & Helene Rottapel in Sherman OaksSun, March 19, 1995The Biltmore HotelSun, April 9, 1995The UCLA Faculty CenterFebruary Concert
Sun, February 20, 1994the home of Allen & Jane Fink in BurbankSun, February 20, 1994The Biltmore HotelMarch Concert
Sun, March 14, 1993the home of David & Helene Rottapel in Sherman OaksSun, March 14, 1993The Biltmore HotelMay Concert
Sun, May 31, 1992the home of Bruce & Beverly Gladstone in Sherman OaksSun, May 31, 1992The Biltmore HotelFebruary Concert
Sun, February 2, 1992the home of Geraldine SchleinSun, February 2, 1992The Biltmore HotelMarch Concert
Sun, April 14, 1991the home of Aleen Leslie in Beverly HillsSun, April 14, 1991The Biltmore HotelApril Concert
Sun, February 3, 1991the home of David & Helene Rottapel in Sherman OaksSun, February 3, 1991The Biltmore HotelMay Concert
Wed, May 9, 1990the home of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Livio in WestwoodThu, May 10, 1990The Biltmore HotelFebruary Concert
Wed, February 28, 1990the home of Mark & Lynn Schiffmacher in Sherman OaksThu, March 1, 1990Clark LibraryThu, March 1, 1990Clark LibraryMixed Ensemble
Wed, January 6, 1988the home of Helene & David Rottapel in Sherman OaksThu, January 7, 1988The Biltmore HotelMixed Ensemble
Wed, January 21, 1987the home of Helene & David Rottapel in Sherman OaksThu, January 22, 1987Morgan-Wixson TheaterThe Ur-Concert
Sat, March 6, 1982The Home of Lee BurnsSun, March 7, 1982The Home of Lee Burns