About
At the age of 16 I was one of the youngest students to study percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music. After graduating I started working in London as a freelance percussionist in all styles of music. My composition work has covered a very wide spectrum of music ranging from commercial songwriting through to orchestral composition and opera. I have worked with Steven Berkoff, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Peter Maxwell Davis’s Fires Of London, The BBC Symphony Orchestra and The London Sinfonietta.
One of my first compositions was a Vibraphone solo called ‘Blues for Gilbert’. This has gone on to become a percussion standard - one of the most performed tuned percussion piece of all time - and has been recorded on many CD’s.
Composer and Performer for Steven Berkoff
I have been working with Steven Berkoff since 1983. Over the years we have collaborated on many productions. I create my scores organically during the rehearsal period. I have a setup comprising of percussion instruments, keyboards and a computer running live elements as well. Apart from our numerous stage productions we have also worked on TV and Radio productions too.
Our collaborations include productions of: West, Greek, Metamorphosis, Sink The Belgrano, The Trial, Coriolanus, Macbeth (Radio version), the one-man show Tell-tale Heart, Berkoff’s Messiah. One of our most notable productions was the stage version of the classic film On the Waterfront which received glowing reviews at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket:
"The excitement of the plot, strengthened by Mark Glentworth’s memorable music."
Nicholas de Jongh, Evening Standard
"There are classic slow-motion sequences that look like ballet, with fantastic musical back-up from composer Mark Glentworth."
Michael Coveney; The Independent
"Mark Glentworth’s thrilling live score"
Claudia Pritchard; Independent on Sunday