B.M. 1984, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University
M.M. 1986, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University
D.M.A. 1989, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University

Since entering the Preparatory Division of the Peabody Conservatory at age eight under the tutelage of Julian Martin, Mark Clinton 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), the “…drive and security of his pianism” (Baltimore Sun), and his “luminous, concentrated playing” (Washington Post). He has appeared throughout the United States as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the National Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the United States Air Force Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony, Concert Artists of Baltimore, the Lincoln 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 Clinton and Narboni’s debut compact disc recording (Élan CD #82278), featuring previously unpublished works for two pianos by the French composer Germaine Tailleferre, received critical acclaim in broadcast and print media throughout the United States and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.” Their recording of works for two pianos by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinù (Élan 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 enthusiastically received recitals at the American Cathedral in Paris, Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, and the historic rotunda of Steinway Hall in New York City.  Other noteworthy performances have included an appearance as guest soloist in Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, an international tour with the Montecristo Ensemble (together with violinist Mihai Craioveanu, violist Lisa Nelson, and cellist Nina Gordon), a performance of the Dvorak Piano Quintet in A major with the Chiara Quartet, a Midwest tour with the Amicitia Duo, and a concert of chamber music with strings at the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts in Holland, Michigan.

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, the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival in Prague, Czech Republic, and the International Chamber Music Festival in Kyustendil, Bulgaria.  He also frequently serves as an adjudicator for important national and international competitions.  Clinton is currently Professor of Piano and Head of the Keyboard Area at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Mark Clinton is a Steinway artist.