Mark Fax

Prominent African American composer and professor of music. Fax taught music at the college for the spring semester of 1946.

Biography shared in Black Mountain College bulletin misspells his name, but is as follows,

"MARC FAX by Jane Markoff Marc Oakland Fax has been welcomed this quarter as a visiting member of the music faculty. Mr. Fax recently received his Master’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Bernard Rogers, Alvin Hanson, Soderland and Royce.

In addition to teaching harmony and piano, Mr. Fax is giving an introductory course in music for students without technical background, as well as assisting with chorus and concerts. He is at present preparing for a solo recital at which he will play a number of modern works, two of his own composition.

Mr. Fax joined the BMC community on relatively short notice in answer to the need created by the death of Dr. Jalowetz. His work up to this time has been primarily in composition and teaching. Since arriving here, he has begun work on a sonata for clarinet and piano.

Mr. Fax was Director of Music for eight years at Paine College, Augusta, Georgia. Born in Baltimore in 1911, he received his AB in Music from Syracuse University in 1933. “Black Mountain College,” said our new friend, in a recent interview, “offers a total education, taking place through experience and information. It is unique in this respect. Democracy is lived here, and not taught.”

Mrs. Fax, who is a YWCA secretary in Rochester and studies sociology at the University there, and their two-year old son, Jesse, plan to visit the college during the quarter."

Fax went on to teach at Howard University where he taught composers Dorothy Rudd Moore and Adolphus Hailstork. Fax’s catalogue is comprised of music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, voice, organ, piano, and includes two operas. He became Director of the School of Music at Howard in 1972 and held the position until his death in 1974.

Biography written by Amanda Hartman.