Raised in Winnipeg, Mark began formal music education in Edmonton in 1977 where he studied jazz arranging and composition. Success as a singer/songwriter led to a 1987 move to Toronto where he released an album with Duke Street Records and wrote the music score for "I've Heard the Mermaid's Singing" . In the last twelve years he has been nominated for 9 genie awards, and 8 Gemini awards for his work in Television and film, as well as winning the Hot Docs award for documentary film music for "Hearts of Hate" and agian in 2000 for "The Toughest Job in .