Mark Ellis is a beloved teacher here at APK and a former world-touring musician. With two degrees and a lifetime of stories, we here at The Blue and White decided to interview him to learn more about our resident musician extraordinaire.
What instrument are you most fluent in?
“I’m most fluent in the trumpet. I started trumpet way back in the third grade. In New York, where I grew up, music was throughout all the schools. They would take so many kids that were in elementary school and make a full elementary band. So I’ve been playing since kindergarten, and so yeah, I’ve been playing professionally now for a long time.”
You also play piano, right?
“Yes, I also picked up piano. When you go to college for music, you have to do a piano minor. It’s just part of the curriculum. So you do a couple, maybe three years, but I kept pursuing it. You know, trying to get better to be a good jazz player.”
Where have you performed?
“Throughout New York State, where I went to school, I performed in this 10 piece rock band, we performed all throughout the state. But then in college I went on the road with the circus, Cole Brothers, Ringling Brothers, Zerbini brothers, a bunch of them. I played all the major cities in the United States except Honolulu in Hawaii. I also played throughout Canada, all the provinces, and we even took a tour in Japan and a little bit in Great Britain.”
If you had to pick a favorite venue that you’ve performed at, what would that be?
“[With a fun accent] New York City! Yeah, probably New York. Because I’m from there, I knew a lot of people. I played Madison Square Garden because the Ringling brothers would play there and New Jersey in the Meadowlands, but it was pretty much the same. A lot of the same people would perform there. But New York’s New York you know? It’s the Big Apple, the big city.”
What inspired you to start teaching?
“So I taught vacation bible school when I was a teenager, and then I graduated high school, and I took the summer job as a teacher. They needed a teacher’s assistant. When I went on the road all through the 80s and the early 90s I tutored when I was in the circus. And so it was just another step, then I went through my internship for my music ed degree. Then I taught high school band, so it was just like, well I might as well use my degree. And that’s what I did.”
What’s been your favorite teaching moment?
“When we took a big trip to Ireland, and that was with a high school marching band. That was pretty cool, because we got to do the parade there. That was fun. But I would say seeing the students get really, really good and then go on to music school. They’re their school’s top players. So as far as teaching, it’s looking to see how far they can go.”
What do you do in your free time besides music?
“I cook. Pinterest has gotten to be a thing, so It’s given me ideas. I’ve always been a cook, and having traveled and played all these places, we musicians are always looking for a better restaurant. So I got interested in cooking. So that’s kind of a passion now.”
