Mark Viggiani
Mark Viggiani is a classical and contemporary guitarist and composer who performs widely as a soloist and in ensembles. His compositions, inspired by nature and spirituality, have been taken up by groups including Z.O.O. Duo and the new-music ensemble Sonance.
Mark Viggiani studied classical and contemporary guitar at the Victorian College of the Arts with Peter Lynch and Michael Doyle, graduating with a Diploma of Arts (Music) in 1990. He added a Licentiate of Music in Classical Guitar in 1992, and has since performed regularly in a wide range of settings while developing as a composer.
In 1990 he co-founded the contemporary improvisation ensemble Sonance, working as both composer and performer. Sonance received funding from the Australia Arts Council, presented concerts at the C.U.B. Malthouse and the Elm St. Hall, and was recorded by the ABC.
In 1995 he formed a duo with percussionist Steve Falk to play original repertoire. As a solo guitarist he gives regular concerts of original pieces with a strong improvisational strand. He has also been a member of the Jenny Gare Jazz Quartet, and appears as guitarist on Loco Tempo’s Move standards set titlewave.
Alongside performing he is a prolific composer. Among his many works for guitar, the duet Black Cat Tango has been taken up by Z.O.O. Duo (Peter Constant and Marion Schaap) and is recorded on A Sympathetic Resonance (MCD 105).
A selection of his own compositions appears on the Move release The Rainmaker (MCD 078), which drew strong praise from critics in Australia and overseas for its fluency, flair and inventive improvising.
Mark Viggiani is featured on the following titles
The Rainmaker
From jazz to Celtic, Middle Eastern folk to contemporary classical, ambience to the tango, The Rainmaker gathers an eclectic spread of influences into one guitar-led programme of original pieces.
Composer
Compositions by Mark Viggiani also appear on
A Sympathetic Resonance
Peter Constant presents classical guitar works by Australian composers, joined by Marion Schaap on guitar, Mardi McSullea on flute and Helen Noonan, soprano.
Mark Viggiani also appears on
titlewave
On their first Move disc, titlewave, Loco Tempo – vocalist Colleen Hunt and pianist/arranger Rick Freeman – are joined by a first-rate jazz combo, including guitarist Mark Viggiani and trombonist Jordan Murray, in standards chosen for their timeless quality.