Mark Gustavson

The composer Mark Gustavson was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in the Chicago suburbs. He began studying clarinet at eight and composing when he was sixteen. He attended Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois, Columbia University, and Conservatory of Amsterdam. 

For the last seven years Gustavson’s interests have focused on electroacoustic works with solo performers or video. His most recent work, Time is in the Trees for marimba and 2-channel fixed audio will be performed in 2027 by Greg Zuber. Which is Which for clarinet and 2-channel fixed audio was premiered at the 2025 New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival by Ford Fourqurean. Deep Song for viola and 2-channel fixed audio was commissioned and recorded by Paul Cortese. Gustavson collaborated with the Canadian artist Chris Myhr to create the twenty-minute audio-visual video In-Between. This work has been programed on festivals and concerts around North American and Great Britain. Both artists share an interest in environmentalism and art reflecting nature.

Gustavson refers to his use of electronics as neo-musique concrete. As with traditional musique concrète, most of the sounds he uses are from everyday life. However, unlike musique concrète, Gustavson processes the sounds with the computer programs MAX and SPEAR as well as traditional means to create disorienting sounds.

Mark has received numerous honors, including recognition from ASCAP, BMI, the American Academy of Arts & Letters, League-ISCM, New Music Consort, Gaudeamus Foundation, Joseph H. Bearns Prize, and a Fulbright Fellowship. Grants include the Alice M. Ditson Fund, Aaron Copland Recording Fund, Illinois Arts Council, and others. He has received commissions from, among others, Paul Cortese, Stony Brook University, the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, Parnassus, Fromm Foundation, Koussevitzky Music Foundation and the New York Youth Symphony. His music is available on Albany Records.