Mark Bousie was born in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in 1976. He studied euphonium with Steven Mead at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester between 1994 and 1999. During this time Mark gained both the Harry Mortimer and Phillip Jones Awards.

Amongst his successes as a soloist  are winning the Wind Section of the 2000 Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition, reaching the semi-finals of the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Competition (held in Michigan, USA) and being placed 2nd at the 2002 British Open Solo Championships for Brass Instruments. Mark has also been a semi-finalist in both the BBC TV and Radio 2 Young Musician Competitions. He won the award for the ‘best soloist’ at the 2007 Grand Shield Contest, the qualifying event for the British Open Brass Band Championships.

Mark has made solo appearances at venues such as the Purcell Room, London; Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and in Budapest. In March 2008 he traveled to the USA, delivering a recital at Ohio State University and working with local bands in the Columbus area.

Mark has worked as a secondary school music teacher at Glossopdale Community College, where he directs successful brass and wind bands, since 2000. In 2004 he was the euphonium/baritone tutor for the inaugural course of the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain. Mark is also the euphonium tutor for the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School.

Mark was delighted to be appointed Principal Euphonium of the Fairey Band in March 2008, having occupied the same position with the Sellers International Band between 1997 and 2007. He has been Musical Director of Sellers International Youth Band since May 2002. Under his leadership the band has become one of the leading youth brass bands in the country. In September 2008 Mark will also become the Musical Director of the St Helen’s Youth Brass Band.