Blog

As Director of Jazz Guitar at the revered Duquesne University Guitar Department and Director of Duquesne’s Summer Guitar and Bass Workshop*, Mark Koch [Cook] has become the face of jazz guitar in academia for students, teachers and administrators alike. As you might expect, he is also a brilliant performing artist with a long list of credentials, performing with countless luminaries on stages and concert halls.

With teachers like Pat Martino and Joe Negri, as well as performances along side of Emily Remler, Tommy Tedesco, Jimmy Bruno and Howard Alden (to name just a few), and a recording career too, it is no surprise that Mark plays a Benedetto guitar both on stage and off. He deserves his place among America’s best artist/educators.

View Site

Mark Koch with his Bravo Model

photo courtesy of player

* First established in 1986, the workshop features nationally renowned instructors and specialized classes for all ages and ability levels. In addition to guitar and bass instruction and master classes, other offerings include electives on multi-track recording, the business of music, performance development, and guitar and bass synthesis, among others. “We’ve had students as young as 8 and as old as 85,” says Bill Purse, chair of guitar and technology at Duquesne. “The experience and knowledge they gain by attending this workshop is both unique and phenomenal.” Guest clinicians have included renowned artists Joe Negri, Howard Alden, Jack Wilkins, Jimmy Bruno and Bucky Pizzarelli.