Mark was born in Northampton, and educated at Merton College, Oxford and the Royal College of Music. He was immediately appointed principal clarinettist with the Welsh National Opera and subsequently with Glyndebourne Touring Opera. Since 2000 he has been Principal Clarinet with the Philharmonia Orchestra and was appointed principal with the London Sinfonietta in 2002.
As a soloist he has performed with the Philharmonia, London Sinfonietta, London Chamber Orchestra (in La Scala, Milan), Thames Chamber Orchestra, Mozart Festival Orchestra (on a major UK tour), Welsh National Opera Orchestra, English Classical Players, Arhus Orchestra, Belgrade Strings, and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. He is particularly well known for his performances of contemporary music, and has given many premières. Solo highlights this season include the UK première of Sir John Taverner's Cantus Mysticus with the London Sinfonietta at the Proms, the London première of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Clarinet Quintet with the Brodsky Quartet at Kings Place, Graham Fitkin's Agnostic with the London Chamber Orchestra at St. John's Smith Square, and the Mozart Concerto with the Mozart Festival Orchestra in the UK and Switzerland.
Mark was principal clarinettist with the Composers’ Ensemble from 1992-2000, and has been principal clarinettist with the Endymion Ensemble since its formation. He is also principal with the London Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared for several years as the clarinet and basset horn soloist in the production of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.
Mark has recorded chamber music for EMI, ASV, NMC and Finlandia records, and as a soloist for Olympia and NMC. Mark's services to music have been recognised with an Honorary Associateship from the Royal Academy of Music, where he is a Professor, and with an Honorary Doctorate from Northampton University.
The Philharmonia's Principal Clarinet's Chair is endowed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and Friends of the Philharmonia Orchestra in memory of Clem Relf.
Mark has appeared in the following Philharmonia films:
Vaughan Williams London Symphony
Clarinetist Mark Van De Wiel investigates Vaughan Williams' second symphony, 'London', on the streets that inspired the work almost a century before.
Music Of Today
We speak to Julian Anderson about the Philharmonia Orchestra's free concert series Music of Today.
Clarinets
The members of the Clarinet section.
Players
Find out more about the people behind the music.
Woodwind Section
Explore the woodwind section; a section whose sound is often compared to that of a choir.
