Mark Eichenberger is currently working on his D.M.A. in Percussion Performance at the University of Illinois. At the university he is a student of William Moersch and Ricardo Flores. He is involved with numerous university ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, University Band, Percussion Ensemble, Steel band, African Drumming ensemble and gamelan ensemble. With the University gamelan ensemble he recently performed in Bali, Indonesia for the Bali Arts Festival in the summer of 2008. Also at the university, he works as a Graduate Assistant with the Marching Illini, instructing the Drumline. He also holds a M.M. in Performance from Illinois, and a B.M. in Performance from the University of Nevada Las-Vegas.

As a freelance/solo musician he has commissioned two pieces, and premiered ten works in the past 3 years. He is currently collaborating with composer Ju Ri Seo on a work for multi-percussion, set to be premiered in the spring of 2009. Mark also performers with I-Pan, a steel pan septet based out of Urbana Il, playing tenor pan and percussion in the group. Also in Urbana he is and extra for both the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonia da Camera.

For ten years Mark was a performer with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Five years with the Phantom Regiment Cadets, and five with the Phantom Regiment, from 1995-2004. He also participated in the Phantom Regiment Winter Drumline in 1996 and 1997. In 1999 he performed with the Phantom Regiment Drumline during the Cheap Trick 25th Anniversary concert in Rockford, which is available on CD and DVD. He was also an Individual and Ensemble Champion in 2001 with the Phantom Regiment Front Ensemble. Mark is excited about being a part of the Santa Clara Vanguard Staff for his second year, and is looking forward to an excellent season.