Great session last night with recent Grammy winner Markus Illko recording acoustic guitar tracks for 'Washed Ashore' a new song for the 'Book of Light' album. Thanks again, Markus Illko for those wonderful guitar elements. Welcome to the GEIST family, Markus!
“Markus Illko can be defined in one single word: musician. ”
— VOYAGE LA, 2019
Many people attempt to make music, but few earn that illustrious title. Those in this business reserve that label for the rare individuals who constantly demonstrate a high level of talent, skill, taste, and sensitivity over a long period of time. To these people making music is not simply a diversion but is a matter of blood and guts. That a serious addiction to making music runs through ILLKO’s veins is made clear from a quick review of his career.
An Austrian native, Markus’ musical education began the moment he signed himself up for guitar lessons without permission from his parents. Just three years after his first lesson, at the age of 16, he passed the exam to the prestigious University of Music and Art in Graz (Austria) and became one of the youngest students in his class. He soon played in venues throughout the world, including Austria, Hungary, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Czechia, and Cyprus. Performances included TV appearances like Barcelona-TV (Spain) or live radio broadcasts such as “Let’s Spend A Night Together“. Winning several prizes proved his status as an extraordinarily skilled guitarist and in 2006 Markus received the Prize of Honor for his achievements from the University of Music and Arts Graz (Austria).
In recognition of Markus’ craft as a guitarist, he gets as well frequently invited to festivals and universities, such as Hollywood in Vienna Symposium (A), Music Festival Lassing (A), Guitar Festival Vienna (A), International Guitar Festival Kapfenberg (A), Guitar Festival Hersbruck (D), Music Festival Lassing (A), Guitar Festival Mikulov (CZE) and Music Festival Montserrat (ESP), just to name a few.
In addition to pursuing his solo career both in the U.S. and abroad, few musicians are able to work in such a great variety of music styles and genres that Markus has been fortunate enough to work in. Besides the frequent touring he composed music for advertising and films including the Signation for the Primetime Emmy Awards for Austrian biggest TV Station ORF, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Tyler Perrys “A Madea Christmas” and “Single Moms Club” as well as many more. “Writing for visual media has always been very rewarding for me and it ultimately made me come to Los Angeles” states Markus when talking about the reasons for moving into the City of Angels.
