Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

Mark is one of Australasia’s most senior and most sought after adjudicators. He is in high demand in all states of Australia. Over the years, Mark has been Chief Adjudicator in every state and territory in Australia & New Zealand. He has also officiated at the prestigious Melbourne Schools’ Band Festival and Australian National Eisteddfod in Canberra as well as officiating at many large local and interstate Eisteddfods. He has officiated at the Australian National Band Championships on several occasions as adjudicator of brass and concert bands as well as Solo & Party events. Mark’s recent appointment was that of Chief Adjudicator at the 2023 New Zealand National Brass Band Championships.

Mark is an internationally renowned conductor of bands. From 1996 - 2012, he was Principal Conductor with Kew Band Melbourne, one of Australasia’s premier bands and with that band he won three Australian National A Grade Championship titles; in 1998, 2000 & 2011. He has been appointed as a guest professional conductor with several bands in Australia and overseas. In 2011, he directed the North Shore Brass Band in the New Zealand National Championships, one of very few Australians to do so.

Mark was principal conductor with Australia Brass (National Band of Australia) for its 2000-2001 seasons. He was the founding conductor of ‘Victoria Brass’ and ‘Prestige Brass’, both bands being “by invitation only” for elite Australasian brass & percussion musicians.
Mark was awarded the coveted ‘Frank Wright Medal’ in 2018 by the Victorian Bands’ League for his services to Music as a conductor, adjudicator, composer, teacher, and mentor.

Mark Ford is widely known as an energetic, innovative, and passionate musician with vision and flair, who has considerable experience at the highest level as a conductor, adjudicator, composer, mentor, and educator.

November 2023