Mark Allen attended college on a large trumpet scholarship, but switched to sax due to an accident. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University, and a Master's of Music Education from Northern Arizona University. He is in his 38th year as a public school music teacher. He is also in his 9th year as director of community bands, both in Arizona and in Cortez, CO. He has been playing with bands for 43 years, and is self-taught as a blues/old rock 'n roll sax player.