Page 16 - Summer Program_06-2019

MUSIC DIRE C T OR

Mark Tuning is in his sixth season as Music Director of Diablo Choral
Artists and is in his sixteenth season as Music Director for Mt. Diablo
Unitarian Universalist Church. He served as Assistant Director for the
San Francisco City Chorus for ten years and has served as Director of
Music Ministries for churches in Oregon, Illinois, New Mexico, and
California since 1985. In addition, he has directed Jazz and Gospel
choirs at Mt. Hood Community College, Washington State University,
and the University of Oregon.
Mark has been on the adjunct faculty of California State University East Bay directing
choral ensembles, has been Music Director for the Chamber Music Society of Harney
County, Oregon, and has sung as section leader, soloist, and assistant director with the
Oregon Repertory Singers, the Portland Symphonic Choir, Choral Cross-Ties Professional
Chorus of Oregon, Nova Singers (Galesburg, Illinois), San Francisco Concert Chorale, and
the Seattle Chamber Singers.
He has made numerous appearances as a tenor and countertenor soloist throughout the
Bay Area, singing several oratorio tenor roles for San Francisco City Chorus. Mark holds
degrees in Music Education and Choral Conducting from George Fox University and the
University of Oregon (M. Mus.).
A C C OMPANIS T

John R.S. Walko studied theory and composition at The Julliard
School, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Huntington College. As
a performer he coached with such notable people as Lili Kraus (Piano)
and Mari-Claire Alain (Organ).

In addition to Diablo Choral Artists, John accompanies the San
Francisco City Chorus and Bella Music (Berkeley). He is a guest artist
for other groups such as the San Francisco Bach Choir and San
Francisco Choral Society. John is organist at historic Calvary Presbyterian Church in San
Francisco and is a Staff Organist at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor.

He has performed solo organ recitals in Paris, Prague, and on the famed Riga Dom organ
in Latvia. John has been a tour leader for many European organ study tours, and was
selected as the sole American adjudicator for the London Bank District English/American
Organ Festival Playing Competition in 2009.
15