Mark Sidney Graham, age 62, passed away peacefully at home on October 28, 2022. Mark was born in Denton in 1960 to Fred Graham and Sidney Sue (Smith) Graham. He was a graduate of Denton High School and the UNT College of Music.

Mark began studying piano at seven years of age. A prodigious talent and dedicated piano student, he also played violin and viola in school orchestras, making All-State in high school. Mark graduated in 1984 with a BA in piano performance from UNT. Friends and family recall Mark teaching himself to play other instruments including guitar, bass, and mandolin after college. Mark was a gifted songwriter and composer, winning a songwriting contest in Los Angeles as a teen. In his twenties, Mark performed his original music both locally and across the state at events such as the Kerrville Folk Festival.

His mastery as a pianist and work as a music director are what he will be most remembered for professionally. Mark competed internationally as a concert pianist. Having played and conducted many productions for community theaters in the Metroplex, he went on to play and conduct Broadway productions that toured North America and Europe. After years living in Dallas and New York, Mark returned to Denton and became the music director at First Christian Church, a position he held at the time of his passing. He was also teaching privately via the Denton School of Music that he cofounded, and regularly performing locally. One of his last public performances occurred at Denton Arts & Jazz Festival in October with vocalist Cassandra Berry.

Mark was preceded in death by his father, Fred, and his mother, Sid. He is survived by brothers Greg and Michael, nephews, a niece, cousins, and a far reaching network of friends and musical colleagues. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 12th, 2022, 1:00 p.m., at First Christian Church of Denton on Fulton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Denton County Friends of the Family, Habitat for Humanity, Our Daily Bread, North Texas Food Bank, and the music ministry of First Christian Church Denton.

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