Mark Schilders (26) is a talent to be watched in the up and coming young music scene. His crystalline sound demonstrates an intimate understanding of tradition while still incorporating his own modern style. His playing perfectly supports a leader, but drives a band so naturally with strong, melodic phrasing and undeniable musical prowess.

A born natural, Mark began drumming at 5 years old and went on to seamlessly integrate into the established Dutch Jazz scene at the young age of 18. He began his studies at The Codarts Conservatory of Rotterdam, and later went on to continue as a guest teacher there, as well as at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague at the remarkably young age of 22. While a student, he won the prestigious Prinses Christina Jazz Concours (2008) and the Erasmus Jazz Prijs (2011).

Schilders’s skill is easily evidenced by an impressive lineup of work. He has performed with such greats as Reinier Baas, Randal Corsen,The New Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Ernst Reijseger, Anton Goudsmit, Stefan Lievestro, Ben van Gelder, Jake Saslow, Jason Lindner, Gregory Porter, Jesse van Ruller, Lars Dietrich, Harmen Fraanje, Marzio Scholten, Ruben Hein, Wouter Hamel, Benjamin Herman, Jasper Blom and countless others, and has toured through the UK, USA, Greece, Spain, Germany, South-Korea, Japan, China and Italy.

In 2012 he was awarded three grants simultaneously to study at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York where he studied under the guidance of Amir Ziv, Jim Black, Reggie Workman and Ben Street.

In 2014 Schilders was selected as ‘Nieuwe Maker’ by the Dutch Performing Arts Fund in collaboration with Stichting Jazz International Rotterdam.

Schilders is currently working on his first album as composer, due for release this winter.

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