He earned a grad degree in composition in 2010, studying with Dan Forrest. In 2010 he participated in the highSCORE Festival in Pavia, Italy, where he studied with Chris Theofanidis and Giovanni Albini and had lessons with Paul Moravec. Mark, who has also studied briefly with Richard Danielpour, is a recipient of several awards, including the Vanguard Premieres Choral Composition Contest and the 2009 ASCAPlus Award.