Home	Educational & Entertaining
Love of Music Spells Life for Mark and Liza	What People Say
Listen to Audio Samples & Buy Tapes	Photo Gallery
Email Liza & Mark

Love of Music Spells Life for Versatile Woolevers

What was the first music heard in this country, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years ago? What was Queen Elizabeth I of England's favorite musical instrument? What tunes did the pioneers dance to? And what kind of American music has instruments from Italy, Spain, Germany, & Africa? Audiences find all of this out & more; in fact, it's not uncommon to see people taking notes- or dancing, or singing along during a Liza & Mark performance!

This husband & wife team is known statewide for eagerly performing a wide variety of traditional music. They love to play a number of acoustic instruments, among them the fiddle, harmonica, guitar, mandolin, clawhammer-style banjo, rhythm bones, & lap dulcimer. And anyone with a specific theme or time era knows that Liza will gleefully track down the tunes to make their Event all the more special. "I'm a naturally nosy person," chuckles Liza, "so if someone approaches us wondering what kinds of songs were sung in, say, Renaissance England--then I'm going to be just as curious about it too. After all, if I had lived back then, that's what I would have been singing!" And that's not all. They add some more instruments, & types of music-such as the ancient necklace-ocarina; tinwhistle & bodhran drum; & all shapes & sizes of the English recorder.

Schools, libraries, & museums tend to call the duo mostly for historical music, complete with historically accurate costumes. "The kids really love to select a rhythm instrument & play along on real Native North American Indian melodies," notes Liza, a Goshen College alumna.

Fairs & festivals often employ Liza & Mark to leave the stage completely behind by strolling the grounds for a lively bit of "Music-on-the-Move!" In contrast, bed & breakfasts-- & wedding parties desiring "something different"-- rely on the couple to provide gentle background music to soothe frazzled guests. "It works for me, too," adds Mark, a graduate of Valparaiso University. And for Living History events or scouting groups wanting to swing their partners, Liza & Mark still fire-up the dance tunes as when they met 16 years ago!

Liza & Mark are delighted when people ask them beforehand to learn specific songs to help occasions be even more special, whether for Holidays or staying within a certain theme or historical time frame. When not onstage, the duo is often seen at open houses, fairs, & flea markets, filling the air between shops & vendor booths with merry music as they stroll the grounds.

Although both grew-up close to major cities {He: Chicago; New York City. She: Boston} Liza & Mark love the country Life in an A-frame that Mark built outside of Plymouth, IN. While area congregations & homeowners alike benefit from the duo not yet making a sole living from performing, Mark's carpentry skills have extended into the music field. He has repaired a number of battered instruments. He also built his own lap dulcimer, along with Liza's 2 harps, an instrument she has just begun to learn after longing for one since she was 9 years old. "Mark just amazes me, how he can do both music & contracting," comments Liza, whose only other job is music-related: teaching her various instruments to students ages 7 to 70!

 With their easygoing manner, their love for many kinds of music -- & their affordability, it's easy to see why Liza & Mark can be found performing anywhere! The couple is self-employed, so they are always available during the week & on weekends. And while they do perform to earn a Living, the music is also, as Liza points-out: "How we enjoy Living!"

"Thank you for letting me hear the old songs again."

-Resident, St Paul's Retirement Community
 
 

Back Home