Mark Ford is the coordinator of percussion activities at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.



A marimba specialist, Ford has premiered several new works for solo marimba and his first compact disc, Polaris, was released in 1996. The Instrumentalist has reviewed Polaris as "superb and (Ford's) compositional style is equally outstanding. Polaris is an exemplary recording." Renown marimbist Michael Burritt states that "Mark Fordís performance and the quality of Polarisí repertoire is impressive!" Ford regularly performs as solo marimbist with the Philidor Percussion Group, a quartet based in Durham, North Carolina.



Mark Ford has presented recitals and clinics throughout the country and has performed at several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. Ford presented a clinic at the 1996 National MENC Conference in Kansas City, Missouri and was one of the Mallet Keyboard Fundamental clinicians for the 1995 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. He also served as percussion clinician for the 1997 Southern Division MENC Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.



Mark Ford serves on the Board of Directors for the Percussive Arts Society, as chair of the PAS Education Committee and as an associate editor of the international PAS periodical Percussive Notes. He is a past president of both the North Carolina and Tennessee PAS Chapters and has hosted several "PAS Days of Percussion."



Mark Ford represents the Pearl Corporation of America and Innovative Percussion as performing artist and clinician. Mark is a graduate of East Carolina University and The University of North Texas.