Mark Anthony McGrath
Guitarist
......music from the ancient harp compositions of Turlough O 'Carolon to Chansons of Jack Brel......
Guitarist Mark Anthony McGrath's original interpretations of music from the ancient harp compositions of Turlough O'Carolan to the Chansons of Jacques Brel have become a regular feature on RTÉ Lyric FM and similar radio stations throughout Europe. Described as ‘unquestionably gifted, always inventive’ by Hot Press magazine, he has performed extensively throughout Europe and the U.S. as a solo artist and session musician
Projects
Mark originally studied classical guitar with John Feeley at the DIT Conservatory of Music in Dublin from which he later graduated with an M.Mus in music performance. He also studied baroque lute briefly with Patrick O'Brien in New York which has influenced his collaboration with Cork based guitar maker Harry McCormick in the development of a 13 string guitar. He has released 5 studio albums and his sixth album is will be released in early 2023.
Known principally as a solo guitarist Mark also performs with musicians from various genres. His collaboration with English organist Christian Wilson led to the duo's appearance at the Dudelange Zeltik festival in Luxembourg in 2008 and at St.Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny during Kilkenny Arts Festival 2010.
Whilst recording and performing in many styles from traditional music to rock and baroque, Mark Anthony has also worked extensively for film and theatre.
As well as traditional 6 string nylon and 13 string guitars, Mark enhances his live concerts with the occasional use of live loops, delays and other effects which enhance the available timbres of his instrument and facilitates improvisation.
Mark is currently concertising with a show of the music German Baroque lute composer S.L. Weiss and Irish harper/composer Turlough O'Carolan on 6 and 13 string guitars which showcases his diverse influences.
Mark is also an accomplished arranger/performer of popular tunes and film themes and enjoys animating social and corporate events with his unique interpretations. For more information please visit Mark's sister site - guitarmcgrath.com
As a guitar educator, Mark has taught at all levels from ukulele classes for primary school students to professional diplomas and has taught and hosted masterclasses and workshops for graduate and postgraduate students in music departments including the CIT Cork School of Music, Univesrity of Limerick and the WIT Waterford Music Dept. He was employed as full guitar instructor for Dundee and Angus Schools in Scotland from 1990-1999. His range of teaching experience has inspired his belief in accessible music education across musical styles. He is currently preparing an alternative guitar syllabus which will enable guitarists of all levels to access a graded repertoire of pieces presented and taught in a less formal manner than with traditional methods.
A volume of arrangements of music by O'Carolan and other traditional pieces is also in preparation. For more information please contact guitarmcgrath@gmail.com
13 String Guitar
Mark has worked with Cork based guitar maker Harry McCormick in the development of a 13 stringed guitar. This instrument emulates characteristics of the baroque lute enabling guitarists to perform this music with minimal adaptation
Mark’s recording of "The Weiss Machine" Volume 1 released in 2015, features his arrangements of music by Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1687-1750) performed on the 13 string instrument. The CD is available to buy from the link below
Check out the video section for performances by Mark Anthony on this unusual instrument
Enables guitarists to perform music from Baroque Lute repertoire with minimal adaptation