Mark Andrew Slater (born 1 April 1969) is a British film composer, conductor, cellist and pianist.
Slater was born in Reigate, England into a musical family. His father Christopher Slater, a professional conductor and organist, was a professor at Royal College of Music in London. Slater started playing the Cello and Piano at the age of 5. A chorister in the choir for Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and pupil of Oakham School. Slater studied composition at London College of Music and techniques for composing for film at the Ealing Studios (1998). Slater studied with Nick Ingman and Rodney Newton.
Known for composing a non-linear symphonic score for the Philips Aurea Ambilight product launch, which won several awards for its innovative microsite. Produced by Advertising Agency Tribal DDB, featuring a film directed by Wong Kar Wai and high fashion photography by Vincent Peters.
Known for scoring several fulldome and immersive films which play at major city attractions around the world.
In 2008 Slater scored the music for the award-winning 400 Years of the Telescope, a PBS special for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, with the London Symphony Orchestra. Narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson. The related fulldome video project, Two Small Pieces of Glass, became the most played planetarium fulldome film shown for the next 3 years.