Maryland Arts Summit Performers

Born and bred in Baltimore City, Cherry Hill-native Producer and DJ Marquis Gasque AKA Mighty Mark, is the new torchbearer of the urban dance music genre known as Baltimore Club Music. Successfully bridging the gap between the intensity of old school club music and the futuristic style of the new school, his crisp production serves you up unexpected but delicious combinations of urban vocals and chants, 80’s synths, 90’s drum samples and heavy booming 808s. These elements melt into thumping bass lines, making your pulse race and your body move. Each carefully crafted track is an individual work of art.

Mighty Mark’s original releases and remixes receive frequent airplay via Rinse FM, BBC Radio and Radio One FM Stations and with each release his fanbase increases as people catch on to the wave. With recognition and features via respected publications such as Complex, Vice/Noisey and Earmilk, the future is looking bright as Mark continues to DJ in Baltimore’s most popular venues, create club anthems and curates music on his label  Hands Up! Records.

The A cappella sound of Sombarkin’, a trio of vocalists whose sound is so well jelled it is amazing to discover just who is singing which part.  The group uses the skill of vocal instrumentation and harmony to deliver an explosive performance of Negro spirituals, map (code) songs, folk, gospel, and contemporary selections.  Their polyphonic technique is reminiscent to the ‘ole time religion’ and ‘campground’ style. Theirs is a soulful sound with surprising jazz licks and blues bends; crafted to impress the ear with the quality of an ensemble greater in number than the trio that stands before you.

Barrier-Free is a non-profit, disability service organization that provides inclusive art, self-advocacy, and social programming to the community for neurodiverse adults who identify as having an intellectual or developmental disability or autism.  Established in 2017, Barrier-Free serves actors/families from Carroll, Howard, Frederick, Baltimore, and Montgomery county via in-person and virtual programming.

Barrier-Free enrolls 60+ actors across two inclusive theater companies, numerous expressive arts classes, monthly social clubs, and at the newly established Life Skills & Social Studio.   Barrier-Free’s inclusive theater companies follow a multi-step approach that includes establishing group dynamics, improvisational acting, script creation, and bringing a show to life on stage!  Actors, staff, and mentors with varying abilities rehearse for seven months to create original one-act musicals that culminate with a final full-production performance weekend at McDaniel College’s Theater.   At Barrier-Free, actors are encouraged to be their most unique selves and to create, express, and achieve together!