Mark Michalak was born and raised in Thunder Bay, ON moved to London, ON to attend the University of Western Ontario. There he received his Honours Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees. He then moved to Calgary, AB to pursue his Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance, studying with Dr. Jeremy Brown.
In 2012 Mark completed a performance diploma with world-renowned saxophonist Jean-Michel Goury at the Conservatoire à Rayonnment Régional de Boulogne-Billancourt in Paris, France.
Mark has competed in several international music competitions such as the North American Saxophone Alliance quartet competition in South Carolina and the Paris, France Duo competition. He has also performed internationally in the US, France, Slovenia, and Thailand.
Mark is also a member of the Canadian Armed Forces Naval Reserve – Cadet Instructor Cadre, and instructs music to cadets during the summer months at Cadet Training Centres. During the year he works with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps “Undaunted” as the Director of Music.
In Calgary, Mark has previously been the saxophone instructor at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University, and has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Alberta Winds, the Calgary Saxophone Quartet, and is a Music Teacher with the Calgary Board of Education. Mark is also a member of the Proteus Quartet and is highly sought after as a performer, teacher, clinician, and conductor.