Mark Serrano, of Filipino heritage, was born in Washington, DC, but grew up in Bethesda and Potomac. Though his family was not musical, his parents enjoyed singing. His father could sing any Frank Sinatra song and his mother loved ‘50s music. His younger sister took piano lessons through college, and his older brother had an extensive knowledge about classic rock bands and performers. Mark dabbled in the piano as a young child and first learned to play “Chopsticks” and “Heart and Soul.” He then started formal piano lessons at age 8 with a local teacher named Barbara Goldberg who was a member of the Montgomery County Music Teachers Association (MCMTA). The annual MCMTA recitals and competitions held at the Peabody Conservatory of Music provided him with numerous opportunities to perform and compete with other students in the area.
Mark continued studying the piano through college, where he was taught by Charles Farley, an accomplished harpsichordist, organist, and pianist. Farley introduced him to both the harpsichord and the organ but was unsuccessful in piquing Mark’s interest in those instruments, as the piano remained his first love. In his adolescent years, Mark had also tried flute and violin but did not stick with either. After graduating from college in 1991 with degrees in both Economics and Music, his mother gave him a Steinway Grand piano. In 2006, he started searching for a house of his own with enough space for the piano. However, because of the volatile and overpriced housing market his plans were frustrated, and he decided to switch to a more portable instrument. Drawn to the cello because of its soulful sound, he began taking cello lessons on an instrument that a friend had given him. Meanwhile, he found a suitable townhouse in Fairfax City and moved there with his Grand piano in 2007.
Mark stumbled upon the AMSF online purely by chance while looking for interesting music groups with which to connect. He joined the AMSF soon after college and was an on-and-off member for several years but never had the opportunity to participate. It wasn’t until 2019, when he felt somewhat disconnected from the piano, that he decided to give membership another try. He attended an AMSF Encore recital in June 2019 at Steinway Gallery and another Encore recital at a church in Bethesda. He also attended the DUO MUNDI piano conference at Jordan Kitts and was quite impressed. Though Mark has not yet played in an AMSF recital, he has been practicing diligently and will soon pluck up the courage to participate. He is currently studying piano with Kaisar Anvar at the Fairfax Conservatory of Music. Anvar is of Uyghur heritage from Xinjiang, China and studied at the Yale School of Music in Connecticut.
Mark’s musical journey was temporarily interrupted first by the pandemic in 2020 and then by family obligations. He took early retirement in October 2021 to care for his aging parents. For many years he had worked in operational due diligence and compliance for a global investment advisory firm in Washington, DC. Though his father was fine, his mother was seriously ill and passed away in 2022. Mark then returned to work part-time and continued helping his father. Throughout this time, however, his interest in the piano never waned. He says, “I love performing because it offers me countless ways to express myself, especially since I’m not the most eloquent speaker.” And about his piano teachers, he says, “They encouraged me to push my boundaries, urging me to attempt pieces I thought were beyond my reach. Those challenges turned out to be some of my most significant moments of growth.”
Mark’s favorite composers include Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and CPE Bach. He has a special fondness for Rachmaninoff and is captivated by the composer’s beautiful haunting melodies and lush passionate themes. Currently, on his teacher’s recommendation, he is studying Chopin’s Ballade No. 2 and Schubert’s Impromptu Op. 90, No. 1. When he’s not practicing piano, Mark enjoys attending area concerts at Strathmore and Kennedy Center, as well as entertaining friends and family in his home. Whenever he entertains, he likes to do all the cooking and spend the whole day catching up. He also enjoys gardening and growing his own herbs and vegetables. His latest hobby, however, is pickleball, to which he was recently introduced at a company retreat.
In closing, Mark had several words of advice to aspiring musicians. He says, “While learning your musical pieces, I encourage any musician to watch a variety of artists perform them. This exposure offers a wealth of different musical perspectives. Additionally, if you can’t attend Master classes in person, be sure to check them out on YouTube. You can gain invaluable insights and techniques from these videos.”