Percussionist Mark Katsaounis has played in symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, percussion ensembles, steel bands, African drumming and dance groups, and World Music Fusion groups. Currently he is working with several musical groups including the Glen Velez Frame Drum Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas and is an associate member of Ethos Percussion Group. Mark is a staff accompanist for modern dance at NYU, The New School, and the Alvin Ailey School. Recent performance highlights include Off-Broadway productions of "Crossing Brooklyn" and "John & Jen," as well as performances with Orchestra of St. Luke’s and a US/Mexico tour with Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. Additionally, Mark has had the good fortune to perform at Lincoln Center in NYC, The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
Mark earned his BM in percussion from The Hartt School of Music (U. of Hartford) and his MM in percussion from the College-Conservatory of Music (U. of Cincinnati), where he studied and performed with percussion Group/Cincinnati. He also studied extensively with frame drum virtuoso, Glen Velez. Although he is classically trained, Mark has spent many years studying drumming traditions from different parts of the world, particularly the Middle East and West Africa.
