Mark Gilenson is a double bass player and pedagogue.

Since 2019 he serves as the Head of String Programs at the Jerusalem Music Centre’s National Excellence Programs for Outstanding Young Musicians, of which he is himself a graduate.

A passionate teacher, Mark heads the bass studio at the Raanana Pais Music Center, and has been the resident bass coach of the Young Israel Philharmonic for over a decade.

As a soloist, Mark is a Classicum artist, and performs in intimate recitals of unique programs, which bring to light rare original bass repertoire in performances which center on extemporization, expressiveness and unmediated emotional communication with the audience.

In the years 2015-2019 Mark performed regularly with the Basel Chamber Orchestra, the Chambre Philharmonique in Paris and Capriccio Baroque Orchestra. Today he regularly performs with diverse ensembles, including the Israel Philharmonic and Israeli Mozart Orchestra. 

Mark graduated with an MA (Magna cum Laude) from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, where he specialized in performance research of 19th century music and performance practices. His research centered on the connection between the musical text and the expressive musical gestures of performers based on historical documents and early recordings. Mark took part in international research projects with the Imperial College and Guildhall School in London.

Born in Riga, Latvia, Mark began his studies with his Grandmother Haviva Dimenstein, one of the leading violin pedagogues in the country. After immigrating to Israel, Mark began studying the double bass, and over the years studied with eminent teachers - Teddy Kling (Israel Philharmonic), Heinrich Braun (Bavarian Radio Symphony), and David Sinclair (Schola Cantorum Basel).

Mark plays an 1880 Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy double bass.