Mark Dante Troiano
Gig Seeker Pro

Mark Dante Troiano

Band Rock Singer/Songwriter

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Mark Dante Troiano, Wheaton Class of '98"

Greater Boson Wheaton Club - Featured Alum

Mark Dante Troiano, Wheaton Class of '98

by Cynthia L. Rodday '92
September 2007

Alumnae and alumni may remember Mark Dante Troiano as a member of Wheaton’s all male contemporary A Capella group, the Gentlemen Callers, from 1995-1998. Mark served as Musical Director from the end of his Freshman Year until his graduation. Two of his arrangements won awards as runner-up for the Best Arrangement in the New England Semi-Finals of the National Championship of College A Capella. Mark earned a BA in 1998 in English: Dramatic Literature and Theatre, with a double minor in Music: Theory and Composition, and Voice. He served as guest arranger to the Gentlemen Callers from 1998-2000, and served as Musical Director for the 15th Anniversary Concert.

What happened to Mark after leaving Wheaton? He realized his true passion was teaching. While at Wheaton, he taught Middle School English, ESL and worked as the Performing Arts Director at several local summer camps. Over the past six years, Mark has taught voice and guitar professionally in Wakefield as well as some classes in Salem. His lessons expanded to include bass, piano, and music theory. Mark sees teaching as a way to continue to grow as an artist but primarily as a way to give back to the community in a positive and meaningful way. Teaching is mentioned in his song, The Story of My Life— “Just give me the chance I need to make a difference / I’ll follow my hopes and dreams / Father my children / Marry the girl of my dreams / And teach my students.�

Whether teaching beginning or advanced students, he enjoys the time he spends with each one of them. While working on the basics with new students, he can hear his old vocal professor in his ear saying, “What does a D sound like? Exactly, in perfect tune.� He applies what he has learned from others to his new students. With advanced students Mark can experiment and trade solos. At this point in the teaching process Mark can help the student achieve his or her dream as a young musician.

For the past year and a half, Mark has been on a musical journey of his own—working on his first solo album. He spends his time working with engineer and Berklee trained guitarist, Don Schulze, at The Starbase Home Studio in Malden. The album entitled The Lightworker’s Union is about redemption and triumph over adversity will consist of 14 songs and instrumentals. Mark states the album’s message is about “learning about relationships the hard way, and being strong enough to still know who you are and live to seize another day.�

The Lightworker’s Union reflects many of the Eastern Philosophies that Mark studies. Mark describes the album this way, “The album is entitled The Lightworker’s Union—as I am a Reiki practitioner in search of my soul mate.� For those who do not practice Reiki, a Reiki practitioner channels the Universal Life Force Energy or light energy from the practitioner to the client for the purposes of healing. Light is a universal and fundamental symbol, which is a source of goodness and knowledge. A person committed to helping others through healing, praying, or teaching and by being kind, compassionate, and considerate is a Lightworker.

The Story of My Life reflects Mark’s passions and desires with its lyrics “Repay my karmic debts / Lay down my burdens / It’s not much to ask for / And I feel I deserve it / I’ve said all my prayers / Just tell me you’ve heard em.� These points are illustrated again in another song, First Draft, with the words “From the world and all the games / I see each and every day / That bring me to my knees / As I begin to pray: / There is love inside my heart / Just look into my eyes / The windows to my soul / The ones even you can’t deny.�

Mark performs monthly at Starbucks in Lexington and frequents the Open Mic Night at Avenue C in Malden. Performing live enables Mark to connect with family and friends while sharing his music with the public. For those unable to see Mark perform live, his MySpace page features songs and instrumentals. Most of his “friends� on MySpace are in fact old friends he has reconnected with over the past year. Mark is eager for more friends to listen to his music as he has set up his page to play five songs instead of the usual four. For those interested in hearing more of Mark’s work, he is selling Extended Plays (EPs) of the songs and instrumentals prior to the official album release. Contact Mark at MDTroiano@Comcast.net for more information. In the meantime, check out his web page at www.myspace.com/dante34.

www.wheatonclubs.org/boston/htm/sept2007alum.html
- Greater Boson Wheaton Club


Discography

I am about to release my debut solo album - The Lightworker's Union, which chronicales my life as a Boston-based Singer/Songwriter over the past 10 years since I graduated from Wheaton College in Norton MA. I have streaming tracks posted on my MySpace - www.myspace.com/dante, www.purevolume.com/markdantetroiano, and www.reverbnation.com/markdantetroiano

Photos

Bio

My music is different than anything that is on the radio or that you will find in a store. I called it Contemporary Music. It's honest, thought-provoking, infused with passion, dedication and hope. I am a classically trained Bari-Tenor Lead Vocalist who can belt with strength, conviction and purpose. I call it a vocal attack. I am a voice teacher and an expert in close harmony, having directed, arranged and conducted The Wheaton College Gentlemen Callers All-Male A Cappella Group for 7 years. I have been in and out of relationships my entire life. I have learned the hard way that you have to love yourself . As The Buddha taught, you must Be A Light Unto Yourself. My music is a testiment to that. It is about fostering inner strength despite impossible circumstances. It is about investing time in yourself so that you can gradually become a better, more patient and compassionate human being. And it's about the Cosmic, Sacred Love between two souls, and the steps that it takes to find both the right person and yourself.

My music is complicated - harmoncially as well as lyrically. To be honest not a lot of people can follow my changes. I went to college majoring in English: Dramatic Literature and Theater and Double-Minored in Music: Theory, Composition and Voice. I'm used to arranging counterpoint for a 16-part vocal ensemble. I think in terms of close harmony, lines of motion and artful dissonance.

I wrote this album for my wife (who I have never met) and my unborn children as a way of communicating with their souls... as I wait to reunite with them here on Earth.

As my MySpace Profile states: I am an Enigma wrapped in a Riddle, surrounded by Paradox interlaced with the complex Yin-Yang Harmony of the 12 Tone Scale. Zen Master, Master of Metaphysical Philosophy. I am a Rock Star.

I'm influenced by some of the greatest vocalists of our age: Chris Carrabba and Jason Gleason of Further Seems Forever, Sting, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Adam Duritz - the epic lead singer of Counting Crows (perhaps the most underrated band in America), Jonatha Brooke, Stevie Wonder - But as a person I am motivated by people who make change: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Gandhi... and just as people: Charles Bukowski, Anthony Bourdain...