Mark Portolese – Music Department

Mark Portolese is Associate Concertmaster of the South Bend Symphony, Assistant Concertmaster of the Battle Creek Symphony, Associate Principal Second Violin of the West Michigan Symphony, and a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony. As pianist, he was a member of Crescendo Trio and currently accompanies the string students at Western Michigan University. He has accompanied students in such events as the All-State Solo-Ensemble Contest, the Stulberg Competition Master classes, the MTNA regional competition, the Walgreens Midwest Young Artists Concerto Competition, and many others.

Mark teaches both violin and piano at Crescendo Academy of Music, where he maintains a private lesson studio of over 25 students, accompanies the student recitals and coaches various groups that participate in the chamber music program.

Mark Portolese received a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Instrument Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Illinois Wesleyan University where he graduated summa cum laude. There he studied violin with Vadim Mazo and piano with Lawrence Campbell. He also received a Masters in Music in Violin Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan.