From being a chorister at Ewell Parish Church in Surrey, Mark Dancer began his organ studies with Michael Fleming at Addington Palace, then home of the Royal School of Church Music, passing ARCO and LRAM in Organ Performance while still at school. He read music at Durham University and was Organ Scholar of the College of St Hild and St Bede, continuing his organ studies with Alan Thurlow and David Hill, gaining FRCO in 1984.
In 1986 he moved to Birmingham becoming a Layclerk at Birmingham Cathedral and Organist of Carrs Lane United Reformed Church in the city centre. During his time in Birmingham, Mark directed the annual festival of the Midlands branch of the Free Church Choir Union, and later the National Festival.
Moving to the south coast in 1995, Mark spent a period as Organist at St George’s, Waterlooville, where he oversaw the restoration of the organ. In 1997 Mark was appointed Director of Music at St Peter’s, Petersfield, also taking on the Presidency of the City of Portsmouth & District Organists’ Association from 1997 to 1999. Following the re-ordering of St Peter’s in 1998-9, he has established a summer lunchtime organ recital series, of which this year’s series will be the ninth.
He is conductor of the Petersfield Choral Society, and developing a recently acquired interest in composition, which resulted in him being commissioned to compose the anthem for the Petersfield Musical Festival’s Centenary Service in 2001. His ‘Mass of St Basil’ (2005) is in regular use at St Peter’s.
In addition to his private teaching practice, Mark is also a visiting tutor for flute and piano at Dunhurst School. He also has a keen interest in photography and church architecture.