Mark Carlson grew up on a farm outside Macomb, Illinois. During high school he studied euphonium with Dr. Bruce Briney and won Western Illinois University’s Concerto competition and appeared with their wind ensemble. In ‘99 he was named a Yamaha Young Performing Artist. Mark earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University with Rex Martin in 2002. Traveling as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, he earned an advanced degree in performance the next year in Oulu, Finland with Jukka Myllys. In August 2004 he took second place in the Lieksa Brass Week Euphonium Competition. This spring he completed a Masters Degree in euphonium performance at the University of Wisconsin Madison with John Stevens. Being a glutton for punishment he is presently pursuing a doctoral degree in euphonium performance.