Mark started repairing woodwind instruments in 2000, combining his interest in flute and saxophone with engineering. He studied clarinet making at Newark College. In 2008 he was asked to set up and manage the workshop at sax.co.uk’s London store in Denmark Street where he has worked on many top players’ instruments from around the world as well as passing on his skills to several repairers who have gone on to set up workshops of their own. 

In addition to the ABYSO members who formally attended this training, the ABYSO also invited the Bands of the Royal Police Force, the Defence Force, the Boys’ Brigade and the Salvation Army to each nominate an apprentice from their ranks to undertake this training. Keeping wind bands alive and thriving in Antigua and Barbuda is important for the ABYSO but also for our traditional artforms like calypso and our marching bands which rely heavily on wind players. Survival is as much a function of developing players as it is a function of having the proper skill to maintain these instruments.

In addition to the ABYSO members who formally attended this training, the ABYSO also invited the Bands of the Royal Police Force, the Defence Force, the Boys’ Brigade and the Salvation Army to each nominate an apprentice from their ranks to undertake this training. Keeping wind bands alive and thriving in Antigua and Barbuda is important for the ABYSO but also for our traditional artforms like calypso and our marching bands which rely heavily on wind players. Survival is as much a function of developing players as it is a function of having the proper skill to maintain these instruments.

Categories: ABYSO News