Mark Lackey composes new music that is “buoyant, at times playful” with “a classical, yet unrestrained lyricism" (ArtsBham).

As a composer of vocal, electronic, chamber, orchestral, and wind ensemble music, Mark Lackey has garnered premieres from many gifted artists including Orquestra Sinfônica do Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro (the national theatre orchestra of Brazil) with maestro Cláudio Cohen, Rhymes With Opera, Fireworks, Eastman Wind Orchestra, Definiens Ensemble, Druid City Ensemble, cellist Craig Hultgren, Miolina NYC, violist Victor de Almeida, and violinist Courtney Orlando. A leader in the local new music scene, he has served as president and treasurer of the Birmingham Art Music Alliance. His sheet music is available through Dorn Publications, Julian Date Music, sheetmusicplus.com, and his own Julian Date Music, and recordings are available on the Potenza Music, Composers Concordance Records, Centaur Records, and MSR Classics labels. Honors include finalist status in the American Composer Competition of the Columbia (MD) Orchestra, selection as Alabama Orchestra Association's Composition Contest 2020 winner and composer in residence, a public reading by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and an Encore Grant from the American Composers Forum.

Mark Lackey is also an energetic educator. As Associate Professor at Samford University's School of the Arts, he teaches music composition and theory. Prior to his appointment at Samford University he served on the faculties of The Peabody Conservatory, The Johns Hopkins University, and Towson University. His work in education has been recognized with a Johns Hopkins University Arts Innovation Grant, a Samford University Faculty Development Grant, and a Samford University Innovative Technology Grant. He earned the degrees Doctor of Musical Arts in composition, Master of Music in theory pedagogy, and Master of Music in composition from The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University where his teachers included Bruno Amato, Nicholas Maw, and Christopher Theofanidis.

Mark Lackey makes his home in Birmingham, Alabama with his wonderful wife and daughter. They are members of the Hoover Church of Christ.