Mark Kausch is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. Mark teaches viola da gamba and double bass from his home in Minneapolis, MN and at Hamline, Augsburg, and Bethel Universities. He also taught previously at the College of Saint Benedict-Saint John’s University where he was founding director of the CSB-SJU Consort of Viols.
He has performed on double bass, violone, and viola da gamba with ensembles including the Hanover Band of London, the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, the Philadelphia Bach Society and the Grande Bande of New York. In the Twin Cities he has performed with a broad array of ensembles including the Lyra Baroque Orchestra, the Rose Ensemble, the Minnesota Opera and Vocal Essence.
In additional to teaching and performing work, Mark spends the rest of his professional time as a public broadcasting content strategist. He joined Public Radio International (“PRI”) as a Program Manager in 1989. He currently manages a significant cross section of PRI’s programming portfolio, working with producers on editorial feedback, business planning and grant deliverables. Mark also works to identify program segmentation opportunities for new media platforms, and he is the PRI Division Manager for the syndicated live music service Classical 24.
Students in Mr. Kausch's studio encounter solo, orchestral and chamber ensemble repertoire, from both the classical and jazz traditions, in a highly-collaborative setting. The focus is on mastering skills with a strong emphasis on highly-efficient, intentional practice.
"The commitment to string bass study - the discipline and practice thereof - is a significant challenge that provides rich rewards as skills are enhanced and new repertoire is mastered. It's that process that makes college-level bass study so rewarding."
