Mark Manczuk

Mark's exposure to music began early in his life. He listened to his father playing the drums at his father's band rehearsals. Playing along with records and kids much older than him, were the beginnings. He began private study under Rob Gottfried as a teenager. As his skills developed, he began playing professionally at the age of 15.

Studying marching, wind ensemble, and jazz, Mark received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for excellence in his high school's jazz program. Mark's talent helped his high school's jazz band's rhythm section first place at the Boston Music Festival with a ranking of outstanding. In his senior year he was awarded the drum chair in Connecticut's Northern Regional Jazz Ensemble.

After high school, Mark attended Northeastern University, earning a bachelor's degree in music business. In addition to his studies, he co-founded the Boston based trio, Canine Guru (original groove based rock). The group released two self produced LPs, the self titled "Canine Guru," and the follow up, "Agodoga." After departing Canine Guru, Mark then expanded his musical knowledge as a free lance musician, performing with the likes of Chris Loftlin (Brian McKnight), Jeff Lockhart (Brian McKnight, Walter Beasley), Yasko Kubota (New Kids on the Block) and many others.

In 1999 Mark began studying tabla with Misha Masud in New York City. To further himself, he relocated to the city. He continued to work as a free lance musician. Most of his experiences came via The Village (east & west), Harlem, and Brooklyn. 

Having returned to the Hartford, CT area in 2002, Mark has established a large private student base. In 2004 he joined the Vic Firth education team as a nationally recognized private percussion teacher. In addition to teaching private lessons, he has continued to perform as a freelance musician. Mark has successfully maintained working in twelve projects, (two steady) over the last 4 years. He held down the drum chair with an internationally touring 9-piece Motown band, (Soul Sound Review). Mark also immersed himself in the world of Gospel, playing on Sundays at Mount Moriah Baptist Church. The projects covered a variety of musical styles ranging from: Jazz, Fusion, Funk, Rock, Motown, Worldbeat, Brazilian, Gospel, Folk, to playing in orchestra pits for musicals. In this time he has worked with John McCarthy (Independent, Rock House), Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Mick Jagger), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Skip McDonald (Tackhead, Sugar Hill Gang House Band, Sinead O’Connor), and many others!

Mark has returned to New York in 2007 and continues to teach students in New York. Look out for Mark Manczuk's beginner drum program "Learn Rock Drums" from www.rockhousemethod.com! Mark continues to study North Indian Classical music via tabla with Pandit Anindo Chatterjee from Calcutta. He also currently studies percussion in Long Island with Dom Famularo as well as Ralph Peterson from time to time. Mark has also received a Masters in Teaching from Pace University. In his three years in the New York City Teaching Fellows, he developed a therapeutic music program for adolescents with moderate to severe autism at The Jim Thorpe School. A variety of percussion instruments from around the world were utilized in this program. He has teamed up with Rozz and Neil Nash-Coluon to form a pop/folk/soul/world musical group known as “Coulon,” www.coulonmusic.com! Mark also works as a sideman in the New York Based bands, Mental Notes (hip-hop/drum n’ bass), Fro (fusion/rock), Cal Payne Project (smooth jazz), The Rozz & Val Show (children's/educational), Kaissa, and various other projects!

Mark plays Mapex Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Gibralter Hardware, Evans Heads, Roland Electronics, Brady, as well as custom built drums of his own manufacture, and uses Vic Firth products.