Faculty Spotlight: Mark Dorn

Meet Mark Dorn

Degrees and Experience
  • M.M., Trumpet Performance (Indiana University)
  • M.A., Biblical Counseling (Colorado Christian University)
  • BME, Music Education (Indiana University)
Biography and Professional Achievements

Mark Dorn is professor of music at CCU, where he serves as coordinator of instrumental music, conducts the Symphonic Band, directs the Mainstream jazz ensemble, and performs regularly on trumpet. Additionally, he teaches private trumpet, conducting, and jazz improvisation lessons, and supervises senior music majors in their senior thesis projects. In over twenty years of touring with CCU ensembles, he has presented band and jazz concerts in more than 60 cities in 15 states. In 2003, Dorn was named Faculty Member of the Year at Colorado Christian University, an honor given by the student body and in 2010 he was awarded the Faculty Teaching Excellence award as chosen by fellow professors. Dorn holds memberships in the National Association for Music Education, the International Trumpet Guild, the Jazz Education Network, the College Band Directors National Association, and the Colorado Bandmasters Association. In 2020, Dorn was initiated into Phi Beta Mu, the International Bandmasters Fraternity.

He is an active freelance trumpet artist, respected music educator, and a clinician in both the jazz and symphonic band world, with regular guest conducting and directing of honor bands and jazz bands. From 1996 through 2016, he served each summer as producer of the acclaimed show troupe, the "KIDS from Wisconsin" the official musical ambassadors for his home state of Wisconsin.

Beyond the musical and performance aspects of his career, Dorn has a strong interest in the mentoring and leadership development of young performers and students. Bringing a strong foundation of spiritual formation to his work with people, he maintains a small counseling practice and personally mentors a handful of students and alumni each year. Dorn holds a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance and the Bachelor in Music Education from Indiana University, as well as a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling from Colorado Christian University. He is also a published writer. Dorn has 4 adult children and 9 grandchildren, and lives in Morrison, Colorado with his wife Jill.