Mark Armstrong

BA (Hons), LGSM

Mark is the RCM Jazz Professor, delivering academic jazz modules and directing large ensemble projects. Mark is the Artistic Director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra with which he directs concerts around the UK and Europe and runs educational projects and workshops. As freelance jazz trumpet player, Mark played with Stan Tracey in his big band, recording a live album from Appleby Jazz Festival, and was a member of the quintet for his final album The Flying Pig. He is a member of the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra and Robin Jones's Latin Underground and has performed widely in the UK and abroad in a variety of jazz styles and genres during his career. As a commercial player Mark has performed in a diversity of settings from the London Sinfonietta to The Four Tops and on film and TV soundtracks. Mark's output as a composer and arranger ranges from choral and chamber music to jazz and symphony orchestra with compositions for NYJO and the RSJO and commercial arrangements for Audio Network. Mark is a presenter, moderator and examiner for the ABRSM and co-authored a major paper on the musical underpinnings of the organisation for the incoming Chief Executive in 2015. Mark lives in Blackheath, South East London with his wife conductor and teacher Elinor Corp and their three children.

Faculties / departments: Research, Academic staff