Mark Slater
Encyclopedia
Mark Andrew Slater is a British
film composer
, conductor
, cellist and pianist
.
, England
into a musical family. His father Christopher Slater, a professional conductor
and organist
, was a professor at Royal College of Music
in London
. Slater started playing the Cello
and Piano
at the age of 5. His early musical gifts earned him a scholarship as a chorister in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
. Slater got another scholarship this time to one of the oldest schools in the UK, Oakham School
. After Oakham School
Slater studied composition at London College of Music
and techniques for composing for film at the Ealing Studios
(1998). Slater studied with Nick Ingman
and Rodney Newton.
Halls performing Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
by Sergei Rachmaninoff
. Slater has worked on several films, documentaries, plays, and concert commissions over the last several years since 1998. Slater worked briefly with David Arnold
on The Musketeer
(2001). In 2007 Slater composed music for the Philips Aurea website. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios
with members of the London Symphony Orchestra
.
In 2005 Slater competed in the Gary Garritan Competition. He was a runner up.
In 2008 Slater scored the music for 400 Years of the Telescope, a PBS special for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, with the London Symphony Orchestra. This also involved a related Fulldome Video project, Two Small Pieces of Glass, which became the most played planetarium full dome film shown in 2009. This marked the start of several projects for the Fulldome world, which includes nearly 1000 theaters around the world. Notably in 2010, Mark scored Natural Selection, the most recent award winning fulldome film from Mirage 3D, produced by Robin Sip. This score was recorded in Budapest with the Budapest Film Orchestra and won an award for Best Audio at the Imiloa Full Dome Film Festival in Hawaii.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, cellist and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Early years
Slater was born in ReigateReigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
into a musical family. His father Christopher Slater, a professional conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, was a professor at Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Slater started playing the Cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and Piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at the age of 5. His early musical gifts earned him a scholarship as a chorister in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
. Slater got another scholarship this time to one of the oldest schools in the UK, Oakham School
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
. After Oakham School
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
Slater studied composition at London College of Music
London College of Music
The London College of Music is a music school which is part of the University of West London in England.The LCM was founded in 1887 and existed as an independent music conservatoire based at Great Marlborough Street in central London until 1991...
and techniques for composing for film at the Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever since...
(1998). Slater studied with Nick Ingman
Nick Ingman
Nicholas Ingman is an orchestra conductor and composer.Early recordings include:*'Big Beat' *'The Love Album' *'Terminator'...
and Rodney Newton.
Recent years
Debut as concert pianist in 1998 at the DorkingDorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
Halls performing Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43 is a concertante work written by Sergei Rachmaninoff. It is written for solo piano and symphony orchestra, closely resembling a piano concerto. The work was written at Villa Senar, according to the score, from July 3 to August 18, 1934...
by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
. Slater has worked on several films, documentaries, plays, and concert commissions over the last several years since 1998. Slater worked briefly with David Arnold
David Arnold
David Arnold is an English film composer best known for scoring five James Bond films, the 1994 film Stargate, the 1996 film Independence Day, and the television series Little Britain.-Film and television career:...
on The Musketeer
The Musketeer
The Musketeer is a 2001 American film very loosely based on Alexandre Dumas, père's classic novel The Three Musketeers, directed by Peter Hyams and starring Catherine Deneuve, Tim Roth, Mena Suvari, Stephen Rea, Nick Moran, Bill Treacher and Justin Chambers.The film features Tsui Hark's regular...
(2001). In 2007 Slater composed music for the Philips Aurea website. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
with members of the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
.
In 2005 Slater competed in the Gary Garritan Competition. He was a runner up.
In 2008 Slater scored the music for 400 Years of the Telescope, a PBS special for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, with the London Symphony Orchestra. This also involved a related Fulldome Video project, Two Small Pieces of Glass, which became the most played planetarium full dome film shown in 2009. This marked the start of several projects for the Fulldome world, which includes nearly 1000 theaters around the world. Notably in 2010, Mark scored Natural Selection, the most recent award winning fulldome film from Mirage 3D, produced by Robin Sip. This score was recorded in Budapest with the Budapest Film Orchestra and won an award for Best Audio at the Imiloa Full Dome Film Festival in Hawaii.
Films
- Solar System Odyssey (2011) Morehead Planetarium & Science Center
- Expedition Green (2010) Hamburg Planetarium
- Urban Scumbags vs Countryside Zombies (2010) MMC Productions
- Natural Selection (2010) Mirage 3D
- Hive Mind (2009) [Ladd Ehlinger]
- Two Small Pieces of Glass (2009) Interstellar Studios
- Storm (2008) Labrys Film & Video [Joan Beveridge]
- Universal Senses (2008) [SKS Films]
- Flatland the FilmFlatland (2007 film)Flatland , is a 2007 computer animated film based on the 1884 novella, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott. The film was directed and animated by Ladd Ehlinger Jr. in Lightwave 3D. The screenplay was written by author Tom Whalen...
(2007) Flatland Productions Inc. [Ladd Ehlinger] - Inside (2005) [Lioness Films] Lucy Brooks
- Lubbos Frau Wartet (2002) Ipanema Film Berlin Birthe Templin
- Black Velvet (2002) Coney Island Films Simon Cathcart
- Panchreston (2000) [Puckler Brothers Ltd]
- Silverfish (1999) Birthe Templin
- The Venus (1999) [Saara Haley]
- Heart of Africa (1998) [Craig Galbraith]
Documentary
- 400 Years of the Telescope400 Years of the Telescope400 Years of the Telescope: A Journey of Science, Technology and Thought is a 2009 American documentary film that was created to coincide with the International Year of Astronomy in 2009...
(2009) Interstellar Studios / PBS - Dodging Bullets (2006) [Puckler Brothers Ltd]
- The Orphans of Malawi [Mirrorplanet Productions]
Theatre
- The Beaux Stratagem (2006) [Chipstead Players]
- The Master Builder (2006)
- The Unvarnished Truth (2005)
- A Murder is Announced (2004)
- A Thousand Pounds by Friday (1999)
Concert Commissions
- The Knight of the Red Crosse (2005)
- Snakes and Ladders(2004)
- A New Beginning (2004)
- Seven Decades (2002)