Originally from Mobile, AL, Mark W. Turner is a is a music educator, producer/audio engineer, freelance musician, and arranger who currently serves as Lecturer of Music at the University of West Alabama in Livingston. At UWA, Mr. Turner teaches music industry, audio production, applied percussion, and introductory courses in Jazz, World Music, and General Music. He also directs the UWA Percussion Ensemble and serves as the Assistant Choral Director. In addition to his teaching duties, and work with the UWA Choral Program, Mr. Turner handles all audio production and recording duties for UWA Fine Arts ensembles, and occasionally scores original music for UWA theatrical productions. His musical arrangements for marching band, symphonic band and percussion ensemble have seen renderings by multiple performing groups across the Southeast. In addition, he has served as an adjudicator of percussion for various events over the years, in both the marching and concert arenas.

After graduating from Davidson High School in Mobile, Mr. Turner earned his Bachelor of Music Education (Instrumental Emphasis) from Troy University in May of 2007. He also holds a Master of Science in PostSecondary Education with Focus of Study in Music Industry, which he earned from Troy University in July of 2009.Upon completion of his Bachelor’s degree, Mr. Turner earned Preschool – Grade 12 teacher certification in Music for the states of Alabama and Florida. While attending Troy University, Mr. Turner had the opportunity to study with several notable figures in the areas of Music Education, Composition/Arranging, Music Business, Music Technologies and Percussion/Timpani performance, including professors Robert W. Smith, Ralph Ford, Paula Williams, Dr. Adam Blackstock, Dr. Mark Walker, Dr. John Jinright and Dr. Diane Orlofsky. As principal percussionist and principal timpanist with the Troy University Symphony Band, Mr. Turner had the opportunity totour the Southeast extensively, as well as record two full length albums of original music by renowned composer Stephen Melillo.

After leaving Troy, Mr. Turner took the position of Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Percussion atOrange Park High School in Orange Park, FL. The following year, he became Director of Bands for OPHS. While in this position, Mr. Turner arranged all of the music for the marching band’s fall field show, writing both the wind and percussion books. During his tenure at OPHS, Mr. Turner’s solo percussion students and percussion ensembles routinely earned the ratings of Superior or Superior with Distinction, at local and state sponsored Music Performance Assessments.

Mr. Turner has served as a guest conductor and clinician for several events in the state of Alabama, including the Washington County Honor Band in January of 2015. He has held memberships in the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity of America, Florida Music Educators National Conference and The Florida Bandmasters Association,and is currently a member of Alabama Music Educators Association and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Turnerwas also heavily involved in the development of Phi Boota roota, a national percussion service organization. Mr. Turner was elected as the first national president of this organization in 2008, and subsequently chaired the general assembly for three consecutive National Conventions. In 2011 he was elected by a unanimous vote to become the organization’s first official Life Member, and is to date one of only 2 persons in the organization, to hold this distinction. He has most recently served as the chair of the Governing Documents committee, overseeing broad improvements to the organization’s foundational infrastructure.

His experiences in the music industry include collaborating as an instrumental arranger and conductor for a special tribute song written and performed live by classic rock icons Molly Hatchet, as well as playing onstage with several original members of “The Swampers” and a host of other Nashville and Muscle Shoals heavyweights, at a tribute concert for legendary southern rock record producer and musician, Johnny Sandlin.Lately, he has been hard at work putting together a recording studio operation at UWA. His first studio album as a producer, STRONGER TOGETHER by UWA Choral Union, was released on January 10, 2022.