Mark Isaacs

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Mark Isaacs

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|6|22|df=y}}

| birth_place = London, England

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| genre = Classical, jazz

| occupation = Composer, pianist, conductor

| website = {{URL|http://www.markisaacs.com/}}

}}

Mark Isaacs (born 22 June 1958, London{{cite web |title=Isaacs, Mark, 1958- – Full record view – Libraries Australia Search |url=https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=35691786 |website=librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au |access-date=9 February 2023}}) is an Australian classical and jazz composer and pianist.{{Citation | last = Galvin | first = Nick | date = 16 January 2018 | title = For Mark Isaacs all that matters is the music | periodical = The Sydney Morning Herald | url = https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/for-mark-isaacs-all-that-matters-is-the-music-20180110-h0g3dk.html}}

Isaacs has also composed and conducted music for film and television.{{Citation | last = Galvin | first = Nick | date = 14 April 2020 | title = Musical adventures with Robin Hood | periodical = The Sydney Morning Herald | url = https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/musical-adventures-with-robin-hood-20200414-p54jmv.html}}

Discography

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" \|+ List of releases (all are albums, unless otherwise shown), with selected details ! Title ! Details
scope="row" \| Originals \| Released: 1980 Format: LP Label: Battyman Records (BAT 2071)
scope="row" \| Preludes \| Released: 1987 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Jarra Hill Records (JHR 2003)
scope="row" \| Encounters (with Dave Holland & Roy Haynes) \| Released: 1990/1991/1995/2013 Format: LP, Cassette, CD Label: ABC Jazz (846 220-2)/veraBra (vBr2076)/ABC Jazz (479 785-2)/Gracemusic (GR005)
scope="row" \| For Sure \| Released: 1993 Format: CD, Cassette Label: ABC (518 397-2)
scope="row" \| Fire \| Released: 1995 Format: CD Label: ABC (479823-2)
scope="row" \| Air \| Released: 1995 Format: CD Label: ABC (479824-2)
scope="row" \| Water \| Released: 1995 Format: CD Label: ABC (479825-2)
scope="row" \| Earth \| Released: 1995 Format: CD Label: ABC (479826-2)
scope="row" \| The Elements \| Released: 1996 Format: 4-CD boxed set Label: ABC (479827-2)
scope="row" \| Elders Suite (with Kenny Wheeler) \| Released: 1997 Format: CD Label: Grace Recordings (GR001)
scope="row" \| On Reflection \| Released: 1998 Format: CD Label: Grace Recordings (GR002)
scope="row" \| Closer \| Released: 2000 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86065-2)
scope="row" \| Keeping the Standards (with Jay Anderson & Adam Nussbaum) \| Released: 2004 Format: CD Label: Vorticity (VM011309-1)
scope="row" \| Visions \| Released: 2005 Format: CD Label: Vorticity (VM021309-2)
scope="row" \| Resurgence (with Vinnie Colaiuta, Bob Sheppard, Jay Anderson, Steve Tavaglione & James Muller) \| Released: 2007 Format: CD Label: ABC Jazz (476 6160)
scope="row" \| Tell It Like It Is (as Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band) \| Released: 2009 Format: CD Label: ABC Jazz (270 3869)
scope="row" \| Aurora (as Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band) \| Released: 2010 Format: CD+DVD Label: Gracemusic (GR003)
scope="row" \| The Wind in the Willows Hush Collection Volume 12 (with members of Goldner String Quartet, Australia Ensemble & Sydney Symphony; narration by Andrew Ford) \| Released: 2012 Format: CD Label: Hush
scope="row" \| Children's Songs \| Released: 2013 Format: CD Label: Soundbrush Records SR1029
scope="row" \| Duende (as Resurgence) \| Released: 2013 Format: CD Label: Gracemusic (GR004)
scope="row" \| Ulpirra Sonatines (with Melissa Doecke) \| Released: 2016 Format: CD Label: Melissa Doecke (MD002)
scope="row" \| The Present (EP, with Loretta Palmeiro) \| Released: 2020 Format: Digital Label: Bandcamp
scope="row" \| Robin Hood: The Film Music of Mark Isaacs Vol. 1 \| Released: 2020 Format: 2×CD Label: 1M1 Records (1M1CD1039)
scope="row" \| Forgotten Fields \| Released: 2020 Format: Digital Label: Gracemusic
scope="row" \| All Who Travel With Us (with Loretta Palmeiro) \| Released: 2020 Format: Digital Label: Some of Two Parts
scope="row" \| Intimacies \| Released: 2020 Format: CD Label: Gracemusic (GR006)
scope="row" \| Ravel: Ondine (single) \| Released: 2022 Format: Digital Label: Gracemusic
scope="row" \| SONATA: Solo Piano Works Composed and Performed by Mark Isaacs \| Released: 2023 Format: Digital/CD Label: ABC Classic/Gracemusic (GR007)
scope="row" \| Grace City (feat. Deborah Dicembre) (E.P.) \| Released: 2024 Format: Digital Label: Gracemusic
scope="row" \| Mark Isaacs: Symphony No. 2 (E.P.) \| Released: 2025 Format: Digital Label: Gracemusic

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"

|+ List of releases (all are albums, unless otherwise shown), with selected details

! Title

! Details

scope="row" | Originals

Released: 1980
Format: LP
Label: Battyman Records (BAT 2071)

scope="row" | Preludes

Released: 1987
Format: LP, Cassette
Label: Jarra Hill Records (JHR 2003)

scope="row" | Encounters
(with Dave Holland & Roy Haynes)

Released: 1990/1991/1995/2013
Format: LP, Cassette, CD
Label: ABC Jazz (846 220-2)/veraBra (vBr2076)/ABC Jazz (479 785-2)/Gracemusic (GR005)

scope="row" | For Sure

Released: 1993
Format: CD, Cassette
Label: ABC (518 397-2)

scope="row" | Fire

Released: 1995
Format: CD
Label: ABC (479823-2)

scope="row" | Air

Released: 1995
Format: CD
Label: ABC (479824-2)

scope="row" | Water

Released: 1995
Format: CD
Label: ABC (479825-2)

scope="row" | Earth

Released: 1995
Format: CD
Label: ABC (479826-2)

scope="row" | The Elements

Released: 1996
Format: 4-CD boxed set
Label: ABC (479827-2)

scope="row" | Elders Suite
(with Kenny Wheeler)

Released: 1997
Format: CD
Label: Grace Recordings (GR001)

scope="row" | On Reflection

Released: 1998
Format: CD
Label: Grace Recordings (GR002)

scope="row" | Closer

Released: 2000
Format: CD
Label: Naxos Jazz (86065-2)

scope="row" | Keeping the Standards
(with Jay Anderson & Adam Nussbaum)

Released: 2004
Format: CD
Label: Vorticity (VM011309-1)

scope="row" | Visions

Released: 2005
Format: CD
Label: Vorticity (VM021309-2)

scope="row" | Resurgence
(with Vinnie Colaiuta, Bob Sheppard, Jay Anderson,
Steve Tavaglione & James Muller)

Released: 2007
Format: CD
Label: ABC Jazz (476 6160)

scope="row" | Tell It Like It Is
(as Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band)

Released: 2009
Format: CD
Label: ABC Jazz (270 3869)

scope="row" | Aurora
(as Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band)

Released: 2010
Format: CD+DVD
Label: Gracemusic (GR003)

scope="row" | The Wind in the Willows
Hush Collection Volume 12 (with members of Goldner String Quartet, Australia Ensemble & Sydney Symphony; narration by Andrew Ford)

Released: 2012
Format: CD
Label: Hush

scope="row" | Children's Songs

Released: 2013
Format: CD
Label: Soundbrush Records SR1029

scope="row" | Duende
(as Resurgence)

Released: 2013
Format: CD
Label: Gracemusic (GR004)

scope="row" | Ulpirra Sonatines
(with Melissa Doecke)

Released: 2016
Format: CD
Label: Melissa Doecke (MD002)

scope="row" | The Present
(EP, with Loretta Palmeiro)

Released: 2020
Format: Digital
Label: Bandcamp

scope="row" | Robin Hood: The Film Music of Mark Isaacs Vol. 1

Released: 2020
Format: 2×CD
Label: 1M1 Records (1M1CD1039)

scope="row" | Forgotten Fields

Released: 2020
Format: Digital
Label: Gracemusic

scope="row" | All Who Travel With Us
(with Loretta Palmeiro)

Released: 2020
Format: Digital
Label: Some of Two Parts

scope="row" | Intimacies

Released: 2020
Format: CD
Label: Gracemusic (GR006)

scope="row" | Ravel: Ondine
(single)

Released: 2022
Format: Digital
Label: Gracemusic

scope="row" | SONATA: Solo Piano Works Composed and Performed by Mark Isaacs

Released: 2023
Format: Digital/CD
Label: ABC Classic/Gracemusic (GR007)

scope="row" | Grace City (feat. Deborah Dicembre)
(E.P.)

Released: 2024
Format: Digital
Label: Gracemusic

scope="row" | Mark Isaacs: Symphony No. 2
(E.P.)

Released: 2025
Format: Digital
Label: Gracemusic

Filmography

A Tale of Two Cities (1984)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1985)
Kidnapped (1986)
Ivanhoe (1986)
Rob Roy (1987)
Don Quixote of La Mancha (1987)
Black Beauty (1987)
The Wind in the Willows (1988)
The Black Arrow (1988)
Alice in Wonderland (1988)
The Corsican Brothers (1989)
G.P. (1989-1990) (34 episodes)
Goldilocks and the Three Bears (1991)
The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1992)
The New Adventures of William Tell (1992)
The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1992)
Mark Isaacs Symphony No.1: Queensland Symphony Orchestra (2014)

Awards and nominations

=AIR Independent Music Awards=

The AIR Awards (or Jägermeister Independent Music Awards) give awards for independent albums in various categories.

Year	Nominee / Work	Award	Result	{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
class="wikitable"
2011	Aurora (as Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band)	Best Independent Jazz Album	{{nom}}	{{cite web \|title=Independent Music Awards Nominees Announced \|url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/independent-music-awards-nominees-announced/ \|website=Tone Deaf \|access-date=20 February 2023 \|language=en-AU \|date=12 September 2011}}

=Albert H. Maggs Composition Award=

The Albert H. Maggs Composition Award is a commission-based Australian classical composition award. It is administered by the University of Melbourne and is awarded annually in August.{{cite web |title=Albert H. Maggs Composition Awards |url=https://library.unimelb.edu.au/music/collections/albert-h.-maggs-composition-awards |website=Louise Hanson-Dyer Music Library |publisher=University of Melbourne |language=en |access-date=1 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601001213/https://library.unimelb.edu.au/music/collections/albert-h.-maggs-composition-awards |archive-date=1 June 2019 |url-status=dead }}[https://web.archive.org/web/20091010200206/http://www.unimelb.edu.au/Statutes/r7127.pdf University of Melbourne Statute: R7.127 The Albert H. Maggs Composition Award]

Year	Result	{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
class="wikitable"
2007	{{won}}	{{cite web \|title=Albert H Maggs Composition Award : Prize : Australian Music Centre \|url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/prize/albert-h-maggs-composition-award \|website=australianmusiccentre.com.au \|access-date=20 February 2023}}

=ARIA Music Awards=

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| 2007

| Resurgence

|rowspan="2"| Best Jazz Album

|rowspan="2" {{nom}}

|{{cite web |title=2007 ARIA Awards Winners |url=https://www.aria.com.au/awards/past-winners/2007 |website=aria.com.au |access-date=9 February 2023 |language=en}}

| 2009

| Tell It Like It Is (as Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band)

|{{cite web |title=2009 ARIA Awards Winners |url=https://www.aria.com.au/awards/past-winners/2009 |website=aria.com.au |access-date=9 February 2023 |language=en}}

=Art Music Awards=

The Art Music Awards are presented each year by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA AMCOS) and the Australian Music Centre (AMC).

Year	Category	Work	Result
class="wikitable"
2016	Award for Excellence in Jazz	For his sustained contribution over four decades and 2015 Queensland Regional Tour \|rowspan="3"{{nom}} (Finalist)	{{cite web \|title=Art Music Awards 2016 \|url=https://www.apraamcos.com.au/about/supporting-the-industry/awards/art-music-awards-2016#_95043 \|website=APRA AMCOS \|access-date=20 February 2023}}
rowspan="2"\| 2021	Performance of the Year – Jazz/Improvised Music \|rowspan="2"\|All Who Travel With Us (with Loretta Palmeiro) \|rowspan="2"\|{{cite web \|title=Art Music Awards – APRA AMCOS & AMC \|url=https://www.apraamcos.com.au/about/supporting-the-industry/awards/art-music-awards-2021#_177516 \|website=APRA AMCOS \|access-date=20 February 2023}}
\| Work of the Year: Jazz

=Australia Council Fellowship=

Australia Council Fellowships of $80,000 support outstanding, established artists' and arts workers' activity and professional development for a period of up to two years.

Year	Result	\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
class="wikitable"
1996	{{won}}	{{cite web \|title=Mark Isaacs : Represented Artist Profile : Australian Music Centre \|url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/isaacs-mark \|website=australianmusiccentre.com.au \|access-date=20 February 2023}}

=Classical Music Awards=

The 2008 Classical Music Awards (now Art Music Awards) were presented by APRA and the Australian Music Centre, at The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House.{{cite web |title=Classical Music Awards 2008 : Australian Music Centre |url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/awards/awards08 |website=australianmusiccentre.com.au |access-date=20 February 2023}}

Year	Category	Work	Result	\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
class="wikitable"
rowspan="2"\| 2008	rowspan="2"\| Instrumental Work of the Year	Walk a Golden Mile	{{won}}	{{cite web \|title=APRA{{!}}AMCOS : 2008 Winners \|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/ClassicalAwards/History/2008Winners.aspx \|access-date=5 March 2023 \|date=14 January 2010\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114011424/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/ClassicalAwards/History/2008Winners.aspx \|archive-date=14 January 2010 }}
Waltz for Melanie	{{nom}}	{{cite web \| url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/ClassicalAwards/History/2008Finalists.aspx \| title = 2008 Finalists – Classical Music Awards \| publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) \| access-date = 29 April 2010 }}

=Don Banks Memorial Fellowship=

The Don Banks Memorial Fellowship was awarded by the Australia Council annually from 1981 to 1996.

Year	Result	\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
class="wikitable"
1984	{{won}}	{{cite web \|title=Australia Council Awards Alumni \|url=https://australiacouncil.gov.au/advocacy-and-research/events/australia-council-awards/australia-council-awards-alumni/ \|website=Australia Council for the Arts \|access-date=20 February 2023}}

=Jean Bogan Prize for Piano Composition=

The University of Newcastle presents the Jean Bogan Prize for Piano Composition, which recognises "original and outstanding" solo piano compositions by an Australian composer.{{cite web |title=Jean Bogan Prize for Piano Composition |url=https://www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/featured/jean-bogan-prize-for-piano-composition |website=The University of Newcastle, Australia |access-date=5 March 2023 |language=en |date=29 August 2013}}

class="wikitable"
Year	Work	Result	\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
2010	Miniatures & Variations	{{nom}} (Highly Commended) \|rowspan="2"\|{{cite web \|title=Jean Bogan Prize for Piano Composition : Prize : Australian Music Centre \|url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/award/jean-bogan-prize-for-piano-composition \|website=australianmusiccentre.com.au \|access-date=20 February 2023}}
2012	Children's Songs	{{Won}} (Joint)

class="wikitable"

Year

Work

Result

|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

2010

Miniatures & Variations

{{nom}} (Highly Commended)

|rowspan="2"|{{cite web |title=Jean Bogan Prize for Piano Composition : Prize : Australian Music Centre |url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/award/jean-bogan-prize-for-piano-composition |website=australianmusiccentre.com.au |access-date=20 February 2023}}

2012

Children's Songs

{{Won}} (Joint)

=Paul Lowin Orchestral Prize=

The Paul Lowin Orchestral Prize, which is "known as one of Australia's richest prizes for music composition", is awarded to a work scored for modern chamber or symphony orchestra.{{cite web |title=Australian Music Centre Online : Breaking Sound Barriers |url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/about/paullowinprizes |website=australianmusiccentre.com.au |access-date=5 March 2023}}{{cite web |title=Six compositions shortlisted for major Australian awards |url=https://limelightmagazine.com.au/news/six-compositions-shortlisted-for-major-australian-awards/ |website=Limelight |access-date=5 March 2023 |language=en-AU}}

Year	Work	Result	\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
class="wikitable"
2013	Invocations for cello & orchestra	{{nom}} (Highly Commended)	{{cite web \|title=Paul Lowin Orchestral Prize : Prize : Australian Music Centre \|url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/award/paul-lowin-orchestral-prize \|website=australianmusiccentre.com.au \|access-date=20 February 2023}}

Other activities

=Lifeline Australia=

Isaacs is a volunteer telephone counsellor at Lifeline Australia, the nationwide crisis support and suicide prevention service.

References

External links

[http://www.markisaacs.com/ Mark Isaacs website]
{{IMDb name|nm1094315}}

Category:Living people

Category:1958 births

Category:Australian male classical pianists

Category:Australian jazz pianists

Category:Australian jazz musicians

Category:Australian composers

Category:Australian jazz composers

Category:21st-century Australian classical pianists

Category:Winners of the Albert H. Maggs Composition Award

Category:21st-century Australian male musicians

Category:21st-century Australian musicians

Category:Male jazz pianists