Welcome to the July 2005 version of the MarkCustom.com newsletter. As usual, the length of time between newsletters, has been too long. This simply means that we are very busy producing great music and time is at a premium. The delay does NOT preclude the useful information that we have regarding our company and our industry. So please read on and be amazed!!!

I am excited about some superb performances at the 2004 Midwest Clinic featuring the United States Marine Band, Kanagawa University, LA Pierce Winds, VanderCook College, North Hardin HS, Lake Braddock, Libertyville HS, and all of the rest of the superb performances that are too numerous to list!!! The exciting part about the Midwest Clinic this year was the addition of video director, Tony Tang. Mr. Tang has brought a new feel, a classy look and imaginative production to the already high quality performances. Also in 2004 we added enhanced audio. In 2005, look for us to have a 5.1 audio feature to our already superb video production. If you are not familiar with the Midwest Clinic, please visit www.MidwestClinic.org. You need to know about this wind band gathering as it will improve the way you conduct, improve the sound of your band and expose you to new and established ways to succeed! One last note about the 2004 Midwest Clinic. The entire convention is now available to be purchased on MP3 CDs. The price for the entire Band portion (advanced and HS bands on one CD and MS and Jazz on the second disc) will be $175.00 and the entire orchestra portion will be available for a cost of $100.00, on a single MP3-CD. Due to the size of the files, these are only available on CD at the moment.

Speaking of international wind band conventions, please be aware that WASBE will be held in SIngapore this July. It promises to be the best WASBE yet!!! If you can’t make it to Singapore, download the order form on our forms page, and order some of the wonderful international music that way. I MUST mention a special thank you to Steven Phua of M.A.S.T. Music in Singapore for all of his help organizing and replying to all of my questions, even at 2:00 AM, in the morning!!! If you want the skinny on WASBE, visit their website at www.WASBE.org.

I haven’t yet begun to tell you about our new projects. One is our CDRom “radio” show titled “WInd Band and Beyond”. This is a “radio show” style presentation that features new and exciting releases from the Mark Records and Mark Masters CD catalog. Currently this is only available on our CDRom catalog of CDs. It could be available on this website, but only in the future. Drop us a line and ask for our new CDRom catalog featuring “Wind Band and Beyond”. For future show release dates, you’ll have to visit us here to find out when this will be available, but it will be worth the effort each and every time.

Speaking of available, I am excited beyond belief to announce that we have released a CD featuring trumpet legend and superstar, Fred Mills!!! I can only be humbled when He called me and asked me to issue his newest CD with the Italian brass quintet, Pentabrass. This album will make your head spin!!! Fred Mills has not lost an iota of quality (or flare) since his retirement from the Canadian Brass. I will guarantee you that this CD will end up receiving many accolades including an appearance on the Grammy Nomination Entry List. This CD will not be listed in our Music search yet, as we only list wind band and choir music on our searchable database. HOWEVER, look for our new online ordering system this October. This will allow you to seek any CD Mark Records, Mark Masters, or Mark Custom has in stock and order it!

One other CD I HAVE to mention. It is the first ever of its kind. R Winston Morris put together the world’s first Euphonium Choir and did the first ever recording project for said Euphonium Choir.. The CD, “Euphoniums Unlimited”. It features stars Brian Bowman, Adam Frey and the fabulous Finish Euphoniumist, Jukka Myllys and a cast of superb performers. This CD has so much good stuff on it I do not have room to list it here. It is a must have.

I must also mention our Grammy Nomination Entry List CDs for this year. We had Nine CDs eligible in a total of 21 different Grammy Nomination categories. “Music of Percy Grainger, Volume 4”, University of Houston Wind Ensemble - Tom Bennett, conductor. For BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM and BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE. “Dances and Dreams”, University of Florida Wind Symphony - Dr. David A. Waybright, conductor. For BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL, PRODUCER OF THE YEAR CLASSICAL and BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM. “The Art of the Serenade - Music of Mozart and Dvorak”, American Chamber Winds - Dr.. David A. Waybright, conductor. For BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL, BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM and BEST SMALL ENSEMBLE. “Hey!” AND “For the Lost and Living”- Rutgers Wind Ensemble, Dr. William Berz, conductor for BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL, BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM and BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE. “Carnagie VI” - Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble - R. Winston Morris, conductor for BEST SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE, BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL, and PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL. “Simple Gifts - The Music of Frank Ticheli, Volume 2” - Michigan State University Wind Symphony, John Whitwell, conductor. For BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL, BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM and BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM. “La Linge - La Sonorite, A Tribute to Marcel Mule” - Harvey Pittel, Saxophone with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Jerry Junkin, conductor. For “Best Instrumental Solo with Orchestra”. And finally, William Ludwig, and his CD “Rhapsody in Bassoon”. For BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM, BEST CHAMBER MUSIC PERFORMANCE, BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL, and PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL.

It is amazing that a small, unknown CD label such as Mark Masters can produce such a plethora of quality wind music. Look out strings, wind band is a commin'!!! This brings our total Grammy Entry list appearances to 61. Still Mark Records has only 2 Nominations to show for all of these spectacular titles. No worry. I have a sneaking suspicion, that there might be a change in the wind soon. Stay tuned for further details about wind band receiving its just rewards.

I am confident that this is enough to read for this version of the newsletter. We will be making major changes to the look, the ease of purchasing our product and better information regarding our company and its new products debuting in the fall.

Until you next visit, I wish to thank you for visiting www.MarkCustom.com and supporting wind band music. Remember, Support Music, Don’t copy.

Mark