Born in London, Mark Bailey has performed all over the UK, Europe, North America, and the Far and Middle East, both as soloist and as cellist of the Edinburgh Quartet. In 2007 the ensemble’s complete recording of Hans Gál’s string quartets was ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone; the quartet celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010.

Bailey was a Foundation Scholar at the Royal College of Music, where he won all the major cello prizes. Invited to study in France for two years by Paul Tortelier, he attracted numerous scholarships and won the Premier Prix de la Musique de Chambre de Nice. Later he worked with William Pleeth and Jacqueline du Pré, as well as performing in masterclasses with, among others, Zara Nelsova and Johannes Goritzski.

As a soloist Bailey has broadcast on the BBC and French and Spanish radio, and made recordings for Meridian, Naxos, Delphian and Divine Art. He has given recitals at the Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall, and appeared in many leading British festivals. Mark teaches the cello and coaches chamber music at Edinburgh, Glasgow and other Scottish universities, including Stirling, where the Edinburgh Quartet is quartet in residence.