Zenith Director Mark Petty attended public school in Wayne, Michigan. He studied piano and percussion and participated in band starting in fifth grade. Petty attended the University of Michigan and received degrees in Mathematics and Industrial Engineering. During that time he performed, toured and recorded with the University Symphony and Marching Band under William Revelli. After graduation, Petty began a long association with school bands as an instructor, coach and consultant. He worked with dozens of different schools over a thirty year period. In addition to instrumental music, Petty has studied voice privately and has sung in symphony orchestra choruses, church choirs and barbershop choruses. Petty's interest in brass goes back to his youth when his brother played trumpet and euphonium. For many years he researched and collected recordings of British Brass bands. In the eighties, Petty began private study on trumpet from several teachers including Gordon Simmons and Kevin Good. From 1984 to 1992 he was associated with the Salvation Army and its brass band program. He played cornet in the Royal Oak Citadel Band and was the leader of its Youth Band. He taught for several summers at Salvation Army Music camps. In 1995, he began research of the symphonic brass ensemble and brass choir. He founded the Zenith Brass Ensemble for talented youth in September of that year. Mr. Petty is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, the International Horn Society, the International Trombone Association, the International Tuba Euphonium Association, the Percussive Arts Society and the International Association of Traditional Drummers. Petty has studied conducting at three Summer Workshops held by University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance. He has studied conducting privately with Dr. Greg Cunningham of Oakland University since 2007. Mr. Petty was employed by General Motors and then EDS as a computer systems engineer from 1969 to 2006.