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"Mark Edwards Wilson is a composer of remarkable artistic diversity. His compositions range from orchestral and chamber music to electroacoustic and multi-media works and have been performed extensively worldwide. He is currently on the faculty of the School of Music at the University of Maryland.
Wilson's most recent works are compositions for orchestra, a medium for which he has a true passion. His orchestral works have a powerful shape that engages in a “dramatic narrative” to use Wilson’s own words. In an interview for the Washington Post, he expressed his renewed interest in orchestral music: Although not all conductors readily perform new works; nevertheless, composers must not give up on the orchestra as a medium that is both vital and relevant to a living culture. It would be a tragic loss if the role of the symphony orchestra is limited to the musical equivalent of a museum. The talented, creative artists that constitute a symphony orchestra should have a purpose beyond that of being curators of the great art of another era. I propose a renaissance in the field of music for the symphony orchestra—a music that will capture the imagination of audiences, and, in this endeavor, American composers can lead the way."
Alexander Radcliffe (from interviews and notes from the CD release on Capstone, CPS-8803)
One of Wilson's recent orchestral works, The Phoenix, was chosen as the Grand Prize Winner of the Realize Music Challenge, an international competition for new orchestra music sponsored by Notion Music, Inc. and the London Symphony Orchestra.
To quote the press release, “Mark Edwards Wilson succeeded in winning over our panel of judges with his composition, The Phoenix, ahead of many other excellent-quality scores submitted by composers from around the world.”
As part of the prize, The Phoenix was recorded at Abbey Road Studios by the London Symphony Orchestra. During the Centennial Celebration of the Austin Symphony Orchestra (2011), The Phoenix received two performances under the direction of Peter Bay.
Wilson's most recent recordings are of Windows, released on the Neuma label in 2006 (Neuma 450-105) and a 2008 release on Parma/Capstone Records (CPS-8803) entirely dedicated to his compositions, ranging from solo and chamber music works to a composition for chamber orchestra, Ancient Ways, featuring the Hollywood Chamber Players conducted by the composer. Both releases are available online or directly through the composer. In addition a pre-release recording of The Phoenix with the London Symphony Orchestra is available directly through the composer.