Mark Holter

Alto & Tenor Saxophone

Mark Holter was born in Laredo, Texas but grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended West Virginia University where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Education. Mark moved to Houston, where he rapidly became a popular saxophone instructor for many school districts. He received a Master of Music degree from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music and is presently is classified as All But Dissertation in the pursuit of a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting. A former Teaching Assistant, Moores Foundation Lecturer and Scholar, Holter still actively assists with the Jazz Studies program at UH.

Mark Holter is the director of Jazz Ensembles at Houston Community College System’s Central Campus where his group, Texas Jazz Central, comprised of community individuals from every profession, has evolved as one of the leading focal points in Houston’s entertainment scene. Mark also teaches Improvisation, Jazz Saxophone, and History of Jazz at HCC.

Holter has been featured as soloist with the Texas All-State Jr. College Jazz Ensemble and is a two-time clinician with Texas Regions IX and V respectively. He has also appeared as adjudicator at many Jazz Festivals including Texas Region IX, San Jacinto College Central, Wharton County Jr. College, Rice University, University of Houston, and MacArthur High School.

Being an active soloist, adjudicator, and clinician gives the opportunity for constant dedication to the jazz field. As a working freelance musician in and out of the Houston area, Mark has toured extensively and played shows for many performers such as Tony Bennett, Kay Starr, Coasters, Temptations, Four Tops, Platters, Natalie Cole, Spinners, and many others! He has also had the opportunity to play music with such luminaries as Charlie Haden, Joe Henderson, Conrad Herwig, Terence Blanchard, Adam Nussbaum, Willie Thomas, Marvin Stam, Red Holloway and many other notables. Mark has written compositions, arrangements, and transcriptions which have been published.

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