Mark Browse

Mark Browse was born in Hertfordshire and was educated at Borden School, Sittingbourne (Kent) and St Peter's College, Oxford, where he read Modern Languages. From an early age he has been involved in choral singing of various sorts, and this wealth of practical musical experience, combined with a natural lyrical gift, hasproved to be an invaluable education.

Mark is primarily a vocal and choral composer. His first works to be performed were the Christmas anthems 'Lute-book lullaby' and the ever-popular 'There is no Rose'. Other notable successes include 'Surge, Aquillo' (an anthem written for the composer's wedding to Jo Laming in 2001).

2004 saw the premiere of his one-act opera, Margaret of Antioch, to a libretto by Christopher Loveless. Scored for six soloists, chorus and small orchestra, it tells the story of the baptism and martyrdom of St Margaret in AD 304, and was specially commissioned to mark the 1700th anniversary of her death. The opera was revived on its tenth anniversary in 2014, in a concert version performed by the English Arts Chorale conducted by Leslie Olive.

In July 2010 Mark's oratorio 'The Mysteries of Joy' was performed in Warnham. Scored for chorus, soloists and chamber ensemble, it tells the story of the early life of Christ from the Annunciation to the finding of the boy Jesus in the Temple. The libretto is once again by Christopher Loveless.

As well as composing music, Mark writes about it. His book 'O little town: hymn-tunes and the places that inspired them' is available from Lulu.com and other online distributors.

Mark Browse lives in Warnham, West Sussex, with his wife Jo and their son Adam.