Mark Armstrong is one of Ireland’s best-known musicians with an eclectic career spanning over forty years. As a conductor he has immense experience both on the concert platform and in the recording studio. He has conducted all of Ireland’s top ensembles, choirs and bands – National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Irish Film Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Baroque Orchestra of Ireland, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Opera Theatre Company, Irish Youth Wind Ensemble, RTÉ Chamber Choir, National Chamber Choir, Dún Laoghaire Choral Society, Tallaght Choral Society, RTÉ Cór Na nÓg, RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin.
As an arranger and composer Mark has created many works for choirs, orchestras and bands and was awarded first prize in the Mornington Singers Composition Competition 2014 for his original a cappella choral piece Dreaming. Mark was also shortlisted for the Italian Choral Composition Competition Seghizzi in 2014.
Mark enjoys adjudicating at Irish music festivals and has acted as conducting tutor on courses conducted by Sing Ireland of which he is also a board member.
Mark’s close association with wind bands commenced in 1989 when he took up a commission in the Irish Defence Forces as a military band conductor. He has held the position of Director of the Defence Forces School of Music since 2010 in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with responsibility for the formation of Defence Forces musical policy, performance and training of Irish military and pipe bands.
