Neighborhood: We have lived in Wicker Park for 16 years, well before it was trendy.

Job or Career: Mark - I have luckily never had another job besides music. I’ve taught at Carnegie-Mellon, Northwestern and Roosevelt Universities, voice and piano, and now I teach out of my studio in Wicker Park. Mostly I play the piano for living, including big band, piano bars, weddings, jazz clubs, gospel, pop, music theatre, and classical. Anne - I came to Chicago and waited on tables, after getting an acting degree, what else? I veered off into music, and spurred on by the piano players at the restaurant and author and Chicago Tribune columnist, Rick Kogan, I quit my waitress job. I became interested in exercise, and over the years I accumulated all kinds of certifications. Now I teach certification courses for instructors in Pilates, and Aqua Pilates. I started a company for older adults, called Stronger Seniors, and we have made a series of exercise videos for seniors, sometimes you can see them on TV late at night.

Life’s work or just a job? Anne - I am blessed that I love teaching and performing, so they are both probably my life’s work. Sometimes I have to balance them, or rather, juggle them. Mark - I feel really blessed that music is my profession and my passion.

How did you get into this line of work? Mark - I joined my first band at age 15, which helped put me through school. I studied music at Carnegie Mellon, and after graduating, started teaching there for both the Drama & Music departments.

What do you like about this career? Mark - I like the fact that I can pay the bills by doing what I love to do the most. I also have the freedom to change my schedule from week to week, as I prefer. Anne - That it’s never ever the same thing day-in, day-out. It is always new and challenging.

Where do you see yourself, career-wise, in 10 years? Mark - Hopefully doing the same thing, maybe at a higher level of skill, at higher profile venues, as long as I still have fun making music. Anne - Well, not retiring! We weren’t planning on it anyway, but we hope to be healthy and continue to perform and travel.

Are there any fun perks to this career? The stories and friendships are priceless. We may not see musicians or singers except on breaks on the gigs, funerals, or in group cabaret shows, but there is a bond that only show people could understand. The musicians tell musician jokes which are not funny to anyone else. First rule of thumb is that something will probably go wrong, and then the scrambling that happens is a test of staying creative.

Are there any downsides to this career? Hauling equipment is always fun, especially in the rain, or snow. Clients that have booked a duo -piano player and singer who now want you to play disco.

Did you go to school for this career? Yes, Mark went to Carnegie-Mellon, and Anne went to WSU in Detroit for Theatre.

What’s your latest project? We actually have many projects in the fire. We are revamping all of our novelty numbers (songs we can’t get away with in jazz clubs) from past cabaret shows for our show at Davenport’s November 30, to celebrate their 10-year anniversary.

We have been involved with the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Musical Mondays at Drury Lane Water Tower, each month they are doing a new show, and the audience has been amazing! And the most exciting thing is we have been included in the Pianoforte Foundation and WDCB’s Jazz at Mayslake on December 11. They have not included vocalists on this series usually, and we sing jazz, and God-forbid, cabaret, so they have taken a leap of faith.

Also, Mark has two new recordings out: John Burnett Swing Orchestra, and Gorham United Methodist Church’s gospel album, so he has been busy laying down tracks this year. Next year’s project is still under wraps.

How did this project come about? The Salon series produced by WDCB and Pianoforte foundation has been an exclusive pianist only series at their performance space in the Fine Arts Building, and they have expanded it to include other musicians, and now vocalists, out at the Peabody Estate in Mayslake. They asked us to be part of the series this year, which is an honor.

What excites you about this project? We love jazz and this is our opportunity in a concert setting to perform the music we love.

What’s your background? Anne - My mom has been a nurse for over 50 years, she is my best friend, and my hero. I would not have been able to make any of my dreams come true, if it were not for her belief in me. Mark - I have an unusual hobby - riding the unicycle. I have three of them, and I ride on the streets, sidewalks, and in the parks.

How are you involved in the Chicago community? We both perform for benefits, give back what we can, the American Lung Association of Greater Illinois, and St. Joseph’s benefits every year. And “Brother Mark” plays every Sunday at Gorham United Methodist Church where he has been for over 10 years.

Do you belong to any organizations in your spare time? What spare time? We belong to Chicago Cabaret Professionals, a not-for-profit organization promoting the art of cabaret, and the American Songbook. We also belong to the Manhattan Association of Cabaret Artists, and Mark belongs to the Musicians Union.

Anything else that we should know about you? We have been married for 14 years ... in a row, and we have a cat named Gypsy.

One wish for yourself? Anne - That I could slow down to enjoy the wild ride more. Mark - That I could remain healthy. I can find happiness in almost anything else.

One wish for others? That they follow their heart.

Websites: www.anneburnell.com; www.markburnell.com; www.anne.niachicago.com.