Mark Kross is an American jazz pianist, composer, and highly experienced educator known for his contributions to the New York City jazz scene and jazz education. He performs regularly in venues around New York City with various groups, including the Sonny Simmons Quintet and the Michael Marcus Quartet. Kross holds a BA in Music from Rutgers, a Masters Degree in Music Education from Lehman College, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University, providing a strong academic foundation to his practical experience. His musical style is associated with hard bop, and his active performance years span the 1980s and 1990s and continue into the present.

Beyond performing, Kross has a significant career as an educator and founder of jazz initiatives. Before leaving Massachusetts, he was the Head of the Music Department and Director of the Jazz Program at the Middlesex School for twenty years. In New York City, he and his wife, singer Louise Rogers, founded and direct Jazz WaHi, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides jazz performance and education resources in Washington Heights through festivals, concerts, workshops, and a weekly jam session. Kross has extensive experience participating in jam sessions at renowned clubs worldwide, including Keystone Corner in San Francisco, Smoke in NYC, and Ronnie Scott's in London. He is also a charter member of the Jazz Education Network.

Mark Kross has focused his composing efforts on the marriage of jazz and theatre and contributing to the body of jazz works through education and performance. He is a valued member of the board and faculty for the Jazz Power Initiative, an organization dedicated to spreading jazz across generations.