Mark Grey attended San Jose State University in California, where he studied electroacoustic music and composition with Pablo Furman and Allen Strange.
Several years of teaching at the California State Summer School for the Arts allowed Grey to meet and establish ties with several contemporary composers and performers, including John Adams.
The libretto was written by Júlia Canosa i Serra with stage direction by Àlex Ollé (La Fura dels Baus).
Bertoia I and II, a two-movement composition, was included as part of Kronos' evening length program Visual Music which has been performed at Theatre de la Ville (Paris), Sydney Opera House, Perth International Music Festival (Australia), Barbican Centre (London), Het Muziktheater (Amsterdam), Carnegie Hall (New York City), Royce Hall (Los Angeles), Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco), and several others.
In April 2009, Molly Morkoski premiered a new solo piano work titled A Rax Dawn at Symphony Space in New York City.
In July 2005, Michael Christie premiered Grey's new work for orchestra titled Pursuit as part of the Colorado Music Festival.
Grey's music can be heard on Naxos (Enemy Slayer), Joan Jeanrenaud's debut album Metamorphosis on New Albion Records, NPR/Nonesuch Records/Carnegie Hall radio series Creators at Carnegie, and Warner Classics (Josefowicz, San Andreas Suite).
Over two decades as a sound designer, professional relationships have led Grey to work with such organizations and artists as Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers, John Adams, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Péter Eötvös, Kronos Quartet and The Paul Dresher Ensemble.
He was the recording engineer on Adams' Hoodoo Zephyr, and was the sound designer for El Niño, Doctor Atomic, and On the Transmigration of Souls.
The Summons Elevation Pursuit Ātash Sorushān (Fire Angels) Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio Harvest of Rage Ātash Sorushān (Fire Angels) Mugunghwa: Rose of Sharon A Rax Dawn San Andreas Suite HÖLLENTAL (Hell's Valley) Sands of Time Blood Red Left for the Dogs Hammerhead New Work for Violin and Piano The Alluring Wave Sparrow's Echo Grinder Bertoia I and Bertoia II The Sleepless Dream Kemi Spadefoot Oklahoma!