Originally from Scarborough, Yorkshire, Mark Fortnum is a professional freelance musician, based between London and Cardiff. In 2018 he graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, on the BMus Jazz course under the tuition of Geoff Simkins, Alex Merritt, Iain Ballamy, Steve Waterman, Huw Warren and Nick Weldon.

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He performs across the UK and Europe, having spent 2019 touring Europe as a solo busking artist, immersing in the local jazz scenes of Italy and Switzerland. In the UK, he manages riot-jazz brass covers band 'Bass12' and leads 'The Haus Horns' brass section for party band 'The Haus Band'. As a session player he is regularly found in the studio and performs solo or with a DJ for weddings and functions.

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Performance highlights include The Principality Stadium, London Jazz Festival, Amsterdam Blue Note, St Davids Hall Cardiff, Greenman Festival and Prague Quadrennial Festival, as well as performing for Shirley Bassey. He has made TV appearances on S4C's Band Cymru competition, BBC Wales Today and with Bass12 as the Cardiff Blues resident band on BBC, S4C and SkySports.

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As well as achieving the ABRSM Diploma both in Performance Saxophone and Instrumental Teaching Mark is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, his ability to play all saxophones, clarinet, flute and bass guitar leading to varied session work and theatre performances including; Carousel, Pirates of Penzance, Grease and Little Shop of Horrors.

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Mark also enjoys arranging music for various line-ups from big band to voice and clarinet duo and has a role in education, leading workshops and teaching 1:1 lessons.