I am musician, educator, and performing artist from the Edinburgh area. My band Grace & The Flat Boys realised out debut EP 'Wheels' last year, and just released our latest single - 'Sometimes' at a sell-out gig at Sneaky Pete's in Edinburgh. You can catch us playing regularly around Edinburgh at venues like The Mash House's or The Jazz Bar. You can find out more about our music by clicking here.
I graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2021 with a 2:1 BMus Music Technology (Hons), specialising in audio programming and sound design. I have an interest in interactive sound spaces and improvised music with algorithmic systems. In my final year constructed a system to allow performers to improvise under direction from a computer controlled visual display. You can download some of my ongoing coding projects here.
I've been playing bass guitar for over ten years, and study double bass with Andrew Robb. I've performed across Scotland and Ireland with the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland's Jazz Orchestra from 2019 to 2021. At the University of Edinburgh I studied piano under Paul Harrison.
From 2018-2021 I was incredibly privileged to be part of the Edinburgh University Jazz Orchestra (EUJO), playing bass and serving as both Treasurer and President. In 2020, I helped organise The University of Edinburgh's 'Roaring 20s Event' - then, in 2021, I led the band in hosting our charity livestream 'EUJO's Time Machine', for which we raised over £1000 for Edinburgh charity Health in Mind. The collective videos from this event have amassed over 10k views - You can view them here.
During my time with EUJO, I helped run a weekly free educational workshop called EUJAM which I was able to grow and turn into the Edinburgh University Jazz Society in 2021 - a group for jazz musicians off all abilities to meet and play together. Alongside my societal commitments, I helped run and manage Edinburgh University Students' Association's weekly jam session in Teviot Lounge Bar, organised jazz band entertainment at both Edinburgh's 2019 and 2021 graduations, and have constantly worked to promote jazz within the Edinburgh student scene.
Since 2019 I have been a core member of Thunderstruck, the critically acclaimed show about the greatest bagpiper that ever lived, told through the eyes of a young piper growing up in Fife, Scotland. Our most recent tour took us to every corner of Scotland between June - October 2022. For future show dates, click here.
I've had a keen interest in Musical Theatre throughout my musical career and have played numerous shows for university societies and theatre companies across Edinburgh. If you're looking for a dependable bass player with a good sight-reading ability, get in touch via email: marksandfrd@gmail.com
Previous shows I've played include: Legally Blonde, Chicago, Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sister Act, Sunshine on Leith, Sweeny Todd, American Idiot, The Drowsy Chaperone, Thirteen, Bugsy Malone, Whistle Down The Wind, and more.
In 2019 I was Co-Musical Director for Edinburgh University Footlights' sell-out production of Rent in the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2022 I was Co-Musical Director for Edinburgh University Shakespeare Company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which featured an original score arranged for a small ensemble.