Bass Trombonist Mark Fry has been one of the leading freelance musicians in Chicago for over two decades.  From 2018 - 2024 he was the acting bass trombonist of Lyric Opera of Chicago. Mr. Fry is currently the bass trombonist of 3rd Coast Brass, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Philharmonic. He has performed with numerous orchestras in the United States, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Music of the Baroque - Chicago, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Britt Festival Orchestra (Oregon), Sarasota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera and Spoleto Festival – Italy.

Mr. Fry has performed with the Chicago Symphony in Carnegie Hall during the fall of 2001 and the Houston Symphony during their 2010 tour of England and Scotland. Before moving to Chicago, he was the bass trombonist of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra in Honolulu.

Mark Fry is currently the Artistic Director of Chamber Music on the Fox, an organization which he co-founded in 2015 with cellist Sara Sitzer. Chamber Music on the Fox is a vibrant chamber music series which serves Aurora, Elgin and the greater Fox Valley area.  In the fall of 2023, a partnership was announced with the Woodstock Opera House to bring Chamber Music on the Fox’s concerts to this historic venue.

 

Mr. Fry has been a guest clinician and performed solo recitals across the US.  He recently recorded an album of solo and chamber works for the bass trombone that are all premier recordings entitled, “Flaming Angel”.  

Mark Fry also frequently doubles on euphonium and bass trumpet.  He has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing the tenor tuba part on Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, as well as performing euphonium on the annual CSO Brass concert. 

Mr. Fry appears on recordings with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Mannheim Steamroller, New Black Music Repertory Ensemble and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra.  His principal teachers were Allen Barnhill, Jay Friedman and David Waters.