Mark Hayes’ music has been performed in many countries across the world such as England, France, Austria, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Italy and Canada. Here are a few of the highlights:
- May 1983 – London, England
Mark arranged, orchestrated and recorded a choral collection entitled “Sing the Mighty Power of God” for the Benson Music Company with players from the London Philharmonic. It was one of his first major choral/orchestral albums and it was a tremendous learning experience. - April 1986 – San Diego, California
“Jubilate,” an original worship musical by Mark, was premiered by the Azusa Pacific University Chorus under the direction of Dr. Gary Bonner at MusiCalifornia. - October 1986 – Nashville, Tennessee
“I’ve Just Seen Jesus,” a choral/orchestral album that Mark arranged, orchestrated and co-produced, won Praise and Worship Album of the Year at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards. - August 1990 – Meyerson Hall, Dallas, Texas
The First Baptist Church of Dallas Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra premiered Mark’s commissioned work, “Holy Is the Lord.” - June 14, 1997 – Coventry Cathedral, Coventry, England
The combined choirs of Coventry Cathedral and special guest choir from the West End United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee presented “A Choral Explosion” under the direction of Paul Leddington Wright, featuring “Swingin’ with the Saints” as the finale number in the historic cathedral. Mark was asked to play piano for the encore. - July 25 – August 1, 1999, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
Mark was a presenter and speaker at the first national Brazilian Choral Directors Association convention. He spoke on “The Choral Music of Mark Hayes” and gave his speech in Portuguese. - September 14, 2001 – National Cathedral, Washington D.C.
The Navy Band Sea Chanters performed Mark’s setting of “Grace” on national television at the National Prayer Service as the nation struggled with the tragedy of September 11. - March 23-24, 2002 – Folly Theater, Kansas City, Missouri
The Heartland Men’s Chorus of Kansas City, directed by Joseph Nadeau, premiered “Two Flutes Playing,” a song cycle Mark composed for male chorus, 2 flutes, piano, percussion, soprano, tenor, and baritone soloists, narrator and 2 dancers. - May 28, 2002 – Carnegie Hall, New York
Under the direction of Dr. Timothy Seelig, Turtle Creek Chorale, The Women’s Chorus of Dallas, Tampa Bay Gay Men’s Chorus, Tampa Bay Women’s Chorus and the New England Symphonic Ensemble performed Mark’s original song, “One World” as part of the New York premiere of “Sing for the Cure.” - April 24, 2003 – Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Texas
Mark’s first major work, “Te Deum,” was premiered by the Music Department of Wayland Baptist University and the Plainview Symphony Orchestra. - May 27, 2007 – Carnegie Hall, New York
Mark’s first appearance at Carnegie Hall as guest conductor with Mid-America Productions, conducting his “Magnificat,” “Te Deum” and “Spirit Suite.” - June 1, 2008 – Carnegie Hall, New York
Mark’s second appearance as guest conductor with Mid-America Productions, conducting his “Magnificat,” “Te Deum” and “Spirit Suite II.” - December 14, 2008 – Shreveport, Louisiana
World premiere of Mark’s “Gloria” at First United Methodist Church. - June 6, 2009 – Carnegie Hall, New York
Mark conducted his “Te Deum” as part of the Shawnee Press 70th Anniversary Concert sponsored by Distinguished Concerts International New York. - February 26, 2010 – Denver, Colorado
At the Southwestern Regional ACDA Convention, Mark conducted the Community/Church Honor Choir, performing his “Te Deum.” - May 2010
Mark received The John Ness Beck Foundation Award for Best Published Choral Composition of 2010. - July 22, 2010 – Baylor University, Waco, Texas
Baylor University Center for Christian Music Studies presented Mark with the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music at the Alleluia Conference. - July 31, 2010 – New York
“Civil War Voices,” a dramatic musical with book by Jim Harris and music by Mark Hayes, won “Best Production of a Musical” at the 2010 Midtown International Theatre Festival. - May 29, 2011 – Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York
Mark conducted the world premiere of his new work, “The American Spirit,” as part of the Distinguished Concerts International New York concert series. - August 7, 2011 – St. Paul’s New Castle Church, New South Wales, Australia
Mark conducted a benefit choral concert to raise funds to build water wells for a village in Kenya, Africa. - October 20, 2011 – Cape Town, South Africa
Mark conducted three South African choirs and performed on the 25th anniversary concert of “Voices in Praise.” - October 28, 2011 – Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City, Missouri
The Kansas City Symphony Chorus performed Mark’s “This Moment” at one of the inaugural concert gala events for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. - February 12, 2012 – Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, California
Mark was the guest conductor for Festival of Worship, sponsored by Brehm Center’s Fred Bock Institute of Music, where he premiered his new work “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,”conducting an 800-voice chorus and chamber orchestra. - February 27, 2013 – Kowloon City Baptist Church, Hong Kong
Mark was the guest composer and conductor for an international choral festival featuring a 320-voice chorus representing 32 churches. - May 27, 2013 – Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York
Mark conducted the world premiere of his “Requiem” and the New York premiere of “The Gettysburg Address” as part of the Distinguished Concerts International New York concert series. - August 31, 2014 – National Cathedral, Washington D.C.
Mark guest conducted his choral/orchestral setting of “The Gettysburg Address” as part of a concert, “Labor Day at the Cathedral” sponsored by YouthCue. - February 17, 2014 – Carnegie Hall, New York
Mark was featured as a guest conductor as part of the Shawnee Press 75th Anniversary Concert sponsored by Distinguished Concerts International New York, which featured five of his pieces for chorus and orchestra. - October 26, 2014 – St. Ignatius Basilica, Rome, Italy
Mark conducted the European premiere of his “Requiem” as a part of the Festivale Pro Musica e Arte Sacra. Mark is only the third American conductor invited to conduct at this international music festival sponsored by the Vatican. - May 25, 2015 – Avery Fisher Hall, New York, NY
Mark conducted the New York premiere of his “Requiem” sponsored by Distinguished Concerts International New York. - August 30, 2015 – Midland, MI
Mark was inducted as an honorary member into Sigma Alpha Iota, a national music sorority. - December 14, 2015 – Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, Hong Kong, China
Mark conducted the world premiere of his “Faith, Hope and Love – A Choral Triptych,” commissioned by St. Paul’s Co-Educational Primary School and College and performed by their choirs and orchestra to celebrate the school’s centennial. - April 11-15, 2016 – Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
At the invitation of Universidade Federal de Campino Grande, Mark taught composition as a guest professor at the university during a week-long festival culminating in a choral concert on April 15. - May 28, 2016 – Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
Mark conducted the world premiere of his new composition for chorus and orchestra, “The Field,” published by Holmes Street Publishing. - June 11, 2016 – Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO
World Premiere of “I Rise,” a song cycle for TTBB voices and instrumental ensemble, based on the poetry of Maya Angelou with music by Mark Hayes, performed by Heartland Men’s Chorus. - July 3, 2016 – Denver Concert Hall, Denver, CO
“I Rise” performed by Heartland Men’s Chorus at the national GALA Conference. - September 4, 2016, The National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
Mark guest conducted his choral/orchestral works as part of “Labor Day at the Cathedral”, sponsored by YouthCue. - December 4, 2016, First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island, SC
Mark conducted the world premiere of “International Carol Suites,” featuring the First Presbyterian Chancel Choir and Orchestra - November 26, 2017 – Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
Mark conducted the New York premiere of his “International Carol Suites,” sponsored by Distinguished Concerts International New York. - December 26, 2018 – Mark guest conducted for Distinguished Concerts International New York at Carnegie Hall, featuring his “Magnificat” and “Gloria.”
- March 1, 2019 – Mark co-planned the Ecumenical Worship Service for the National American Choral Directors Association Convention in Kansas City, MO and premiered his piece, “Sing Community, Sing Peace.”
- November 12, 2019 – Mark conducted the Coro Sinfônico and City Orchestra of Brasília performing his “Gloria” as a guest of Universidade de Brasília in Brasília, Brazil.
- December 2, 2019, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – Mark conducted his “Gloria” along with a set of holiday favorites for chorus and orchestra sponsored by Distinguished Concerts International New York
- August 19, 2022 – Savannah Historic Theatre, Savannah, SC – World Premiere of “We’ll Meet Again,” A New American Musical, with book by James Harris and musical arrangements by Mark Hayes.
- May 26, 2024 – David Geffen Hall, New York, NY – Mark conducted his new opus for chorus, soprano and tenor soloists and orchestra, “Kindness, A Chorale and Fugue in the Baroque Tradition.”