Composition

Located in the Niagara Region with a studio in St. Catharines Ontario, Mark Steiger is a teacher who finds purpose in helping people develop their musical gifts and is a teacher who enjoys sharing his experience, knowledge, and love of music with his students.​

As an enthusiastic music educator, Mark Steiger has worked with the Niagara Symphony for their Composer in the Classroom program, and teaches guitar at the Niagara Symphony Summer Music Camp.

His former guitar students include Christine Bougie (Bahamas, Sarah Harmer), and Juno Award winners James Bryan (Philosopher Kings) and Chris Steele (Alexis on Fire).

Mark’s performance career is eclectic. In the 1990s he performed with the rock group, Common Language, and opened for Blue Rodeo, Glass Tiger, and the Derek Trucks Band.

He has performed with Juno nominee, Ray Lyell, and Grammy Award winner Walter Ostanek. He can be heard performing rock, blues, jazz, folk, fingerstyle, and classical guitar.

Mark also had the honour of accompanying Emerging Artist nominee, Aaron Berger, at the 2016 St. Catharines Arts Awards. In the spring of 2016 he composed and performed in The Whole Shebang, an interdisciplinary arts performance with Dreamwalker Dance Company, at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre.

As a student he studied guitar with Jonathan Earp at Brock University, and particpated in masterclasses with William Kanengiser, Fabio Zanon, and Pepe Romero. He holds a Master of Science in Education degree from Medaille College.

Mark's classical compositions have been performed by the St. Catharines Chamber Music Society (CHUMS), the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society, Niagara Dance Company, Vine Street Irregular Guitar Collective, and his jazz songs have been performed by Juliet Dunn, Peter Shea, Melissa-Marie Shriner and Aidan Miller. As a composer and guitarist he has collaborated with choreographers Andrea Nann, Susan Cash, Elizabeth Chitty, and Graham McKelvie.

Mark’s composition “Music for Niagara” was premiered as part of the Cultural Capitals of Canada closing ceremonies in Niagara Falls in December of 2012. Mark studied composition with Ronald Tremain at Brock University and with Alexina Louie at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.