Mark Hough started his musical journey in year 3 on the trumpet and then began playing drums in year 4 with Clarence Valley Conservatorium teacher Peter Jaggle. Mark has participated in Regional and State music camps and workshops, symphonic orchestras, percussion ensembles, rock/jazz bands, International Marimba competitions, national drumming competitions, The Australian Percussion Eisteddfod and performed solos in-front of identities such as: John Morrison, the Governor General of New Zealand and Thomas Lang. Mark was in the top 8 in the Marimba competition at the Melbourne Academy of Percussion. Mark won the Brisbane Drummers Solo competition in May 2015. In Australia’s up-and coming drummers, Mark was in the top 10. Mark has just completed his Year 12 exams. In September, he gained an A (Honours) in his grade 8 AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) percussion exam held in Brisbane. He also received a callback to audition for the HSC Encore to be held at the Opera House in February 2016. This concert features the best HSC music student performances in NSW. Through the Regional Conservatoriums program Mark has performed with the Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra. He also attended the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Playerlink in Bellingen 6-8 November. Thirteen SSO musicians visited Bellingen for a three-day Playerlink workshop hosted by the Coffs Harbour Conservatorium and Bellingen High School. Mark has been in the senior scholarship program at CVCon for 3 years. In 2016, Mark hopes to study a music degree at either the James Morrison Academy in Mt Gambier South Australia, or the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.