Director of Orchestral Activities

Mark Pretzel has performed as pianist, orchestral violinist, and conductor in the United States, Italy, and Switzerland and is the former music director of the Avila College Symphony Orchestra, the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, the Fine Arts Chamber Orchestra, and the Mozarteum Orchestra. While a student at the University of Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music, he earned Bachelor of Music (honors) and Master of Music degrees in piano performance and was honored with the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Award for Outstanding Achievement. He earned Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in conducting from Bowling Green State University and the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Dr. Pretzel has served on the faculties of several schools including Avila University, Hillsdale College, Friends University, Johnson County Community College, where he received the Lieberman Teaching Excellence Award in 2002 and 2006, and the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts. He serves as music director of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Olathe and maintains a studio of award-winning piano students. Dr. Pretzel was named Distinguished Educator at Baker University in 2022.

mark.pretzel@bakerU.edu | Office: Owens 215 | 785.594.8383