Mark Aitken (born 1978) started playing guitar at the age of 15. Early on, Mark focused on the electric guitar, writing music and playing in bands. Primarily self-taught, his formal training did not begin until his time at UC Santa Cruz, where he gradually switched his focus to the classical (nylon-string) guitar. Studying under William Coulter and Mezut Özgen, Mark graduated in 2001 with honors from the UCSC Music Department.

     
   
   
 
 
Mark has since moved back into the bay area and now resides in Los Altos. Wholly dedicated to the guitar, Mark has spent the years composing, working with other musicians, and expanding his classical repertoire. Primarily focused on music from Latin America and Europe, he is also interested in other diverse genres, ranging from Blues to Flamenco.