Junkun Xiao
- Actor
Mark Xiao has been performing on stage ever since the age of 3 when his
parents gave him lessons in reciting and entering him in storytelling
competitions. He was discovered whilst he was attending kindergarten at
the age of five. A casting crew was searching across different
kindergartens in Shanghai for a young actor to play in a new upcoming
drama. His teacher immediately suggested that they take a look at him
because of his background in performance. Mark quickly won the hearts
of the casting crew after reading only a few lines and then went on to
star in the show which became a hit in China, "Yuan Liang Wo De Xin".
Soon after, Mark was appearing in just about every form of television
entertainment, including talk shows and television commercials. He even
appeared in several plays. Mark made his film debut at the age of 7 in
"Gen Wo Zou Yi Hui" acting alongside Fengyi Zhang. This was his first
starring role in a motion-picture and helped to establish him as a
talented young actor. However, just before the film was released,
Mark's family was approved for immigration to Australia.
After they arrived in Australia, Mark never acted again. Instead, Mark took up music and immediately demonstrated a lot of potential. In fact, Mark has often been described as one of Australia's most talented young musicians. When Mark was 14, he was awarded a Licentiate Diploma with Distinction from the Australian Music and Examination Board, making him the youngest flautist in Australia to have received the honour. He has also won numerous competitions and awards throughout Australia as well as appearing on radio several times with ABC Classic FM, 3MBS Fine Music and live with ABC Canberra. In 2004, Mark was the runner-up in the 3MBS Young Performer of the Year Award and in 2006, Mark was the winner of the inaugural Australian International Flute Competition which is one of Australia's most prestigious music competitions. In 2008, Mark was runner-up in the Geelong Advertiser Competition where he was also presented with the Audience Choice Award whilst competing against musicians of all instrumental categories from around Australia. At the end of 2008, Mark was the recipient of the British Flute Society Award at the British Flute Society Silver Jubilee Competition.
Mark has performed with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra in their "Symphony for Kids" concerts which they hold every year and also as a soloist with the Preston Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, Mark completed his Bachelor of Music Performance degree at the Australian National University under the tutelages of Vernon Hill and Virginia Taylor. In the following year, Mark organised his own debut solo concert titled Introduction to a Journey which was a major success. It was a fund-raising concert helping him to travel to the U.K to take part in a one-year residential course with world-renowned pedagogue Trevor Wye.
At the moment, Mark has just begun a Master of Music Performance degree at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste under the tutelage of Matthias Ziegler.
After they arrived in Australia, Mark never acted again. Instead, Mark took up music and immediately demonstrated a lot of potential. In fact, Mark has often been described as one of Australia's most talented young musicians. When Mark was 14, he was awarded a Licentiate Diploma with Distinction from the Australian Music and Examination Board, making him the youngest flautist in Australia to have received the honour. He has also won numerous competitions and awards throughout Australia as well as appearing on radio several times with ABC Classic FM, 3MBS Fine Music and live with ABC Canberra. In 2004, Mark was the runner-up in the 3MBS Young Performer of the Year Award and in 2006, Mark was the winner of the inaugural Australian International Flute Competition which is one of Australia's most prestigious music competitions. In 2008, Mark was runner-up in the Geelong Advertiser Competition where he was also presented with the Audience Choice Award whilst competing against musicians of all instrumental categories from around Australia. At the end of 2008, Mark was the recipient of the British Flute Society Award at the British Flute Society Silver Jubilee Competition.
Mark has performed with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra in their "Symphony for Kids" concerts which they hold every year and also as a soloist with the Preston Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, Mark completed his Bachelor of Music Performance degree at the Australian National University under the tutelages of Vernon Hill and Virginia Taylor. In the following year, Mark organised his own debut solo concert titled Introduction to a Journey which was a major success. It was a fund-raising concert helping him to travel to the U.K to take part in a one-year residential course with world-renowned pedagogue Trevor Wye.
At the moment, Mark has just begun a Master of Music Performance degree at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste under the tutelage of Matthias Ziegler.