DELIGHT IN YOUR UNIQUENESS

by Mark Hayes

This meditation appears in the video below. You surely do not want to miss its inspiring message, accompanied by Mark Hayes’ beautiful music and photography. Mark plays his piano arrangement of the well-known Hymn Tune: FINLANDIA, and shares photography of the foliage mentioned in his meditation. So be sure to head straight to the video, created by Kelley Lum Oshiro.

An internationally known writer, conductor, and concert pianist, Mark Hayes’ career has blossomed into international tours to Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa and Canada. Hayes’ music is found in the music libraries of churches and universities around the world. His compositions and arrangements are known for their unique American sound, drawing from such diverse musical styles such as gospel, jazz, pop, folk and classical. Mr. Hayes’ personal catalog, totaling over 1,500 published works, includes work for solo voice, solo piano, multiple pianos, orchestra, jazz combo, small instrumental ensembles, and choruses of all kinds. He is honored to have his music regularly featured at ACDA, MENC and Chorus America conventions. Hayes is regularly commissioned by churches, universities, children’s choruses, and community choruses to write original choral works. Mr. Hayes is also sought after as an orchestrator and music producer. He has recorded over 20 solo piano recordings ranging from jazz to classical to gospel and is a favorite arranger of church pianists throughout the world. Mark Hayes is a recurring recipient of the Standard Award from ASCAP, and his album, “I’ve Just Seen Jesus,” received the Dove Award, the equivalent to a Grammy in gospel music. In June 2010 Mark released his first CD of original songs titled All Is Well, featuring Kansas City jazz artist, Monique Danielle. In 2010, Baylor University Center for Christian Music Studies awarded Mark the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music. Hayes received the first place composition award in the eighth annual John Ness Beck Foundation competition. He regularly conducts his works for chorus and orchestra at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Whether concertizing on the other side of the globe or composing at his home in Kansas City, Missouri, Mark is blessed to live out his mission “to create beautiful music for the world.”