How Mark Vincent thrived after a tough rejection

A hit musical, tours and a country collab, former Australia’s Got Talent winner Mark Vincent is thriving after a tough rejection. Find out how.

Mark Vincent is playing Old Deuteronomy in Cats at the Theatre Royal Sydney before it heads to Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne. He also recently released a new single with country artist Christie Lamb and lately has done a lot of regional touring around Australia. He’s also got a concert coming up with the Australian Symphony Orchestra at Glen Street Theatre on July 13.

MARK VINCENT

Age: 31

Suburb: Caringbah, The Shire

Mark Vincent loves to sing and has a lot of passion for food. Picture: Kylie Southwood

How would you describe yourself?

I’d say I’m a bloke who loves to sing and has a lot of passion for food. I come from a big Italian family and they’ve kept me humble right from the start. I’m passionate, especially when it comes to music. I put my whole heart into every note I sing.

How do you think others describe you?

I’d hope people would say I’m genuine and honest. I’d hope people see me as a pretty down to earth, loyal, friendly bloke. I reckon they’d also say I’ve got a strong work ethic as I always try to give 110 per cent to every project I sign up to.

Tenor Mark Vincent with his wife Stephanie after their son Matteo was born. Picture: Jonathan Ng

What is most important to you?

Oh, that’s easy. My children. My kids come first. I have three young kids and once you become a parent you have to change your life to do whatever you can for them. I want them to have every opportunity and give them the best life possible.

What is the last thing you read, watched, ate, listened to?

Last thing I ate (I haven’t had breakfast yet) was a piece of steak for dinner last night. I love cooking and I eat a lot of meat and chicken. Last thing I watched was Notting Hill, which was heartwarming. Last thing I read and listened to (at the same time) was a documentary about Whitney Houston, about her life and music.

Dropped by his label three years ago, Mark Vincent went out and started his own label. Picture: Kylie Southwood

What has been the biggest obstacle you have overcome?

When I got dropped by my label about three years ago. I had been with my label for 15 years and when the company got a new chief executive, he pretty much made half the artists redundant. So I had two paths – do I give up or do I keep going? So I started my own label and released my album independently, which went to No.1 on the classical crossover chart and top 10 in the Australian chart. It wasn’t easy but I’m pretty proud of how I dealt with that rejection.

If you had one wish, what would it be?

To play Phantom of the Opera or Jean Valjean in Les Mis on the West End or Broadway. That’s my dream.

Australia's Got Talent 2009 winner Mark Vincent with the program's judges, Dannii Minogue, Red Symons and Tom Burlinson.

What has been your proudest moment?

My proudest moment, I’d have to say, was the birth of my first-born child. That was a surreal moment … a feeling that I can’t even explain. I remember when I first held him in the hospital that night because I’d never held a baby before! I was alone with him for four hours and I thought to myself ‘wow, this is my child’. It really just changed me overnight.

What has been your toughest period?

Covid was devastating. It was heartbreaking not to be able to go on stage and perform. I felt I lost my identity, I didn’t know who I was without that element of my life. I was trying to be a great father to my kids while not being in the right mental space. That was hard.

Mark Vincent would like to turn back time. Picture: Kylie Southwood

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

My goodness – my superpower would be to turn back time. There’s a lot of things I would want to do differently.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I need to be more present in the moment. My head runs at 100 miles a minute and often gets carried away into thinking about 1000 other things and then I’ve lost track of what I need to be focused on.