Mark Fry has been one of the leading freelance musicians in Chicago for over two decades. He is currently the bass trombonist for 3rd Coast Brass, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and Trio de Chats Noirs. From 2018 to 2024, he served as the acting bass trombonist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Mr. Fry has performed with numerous orchestras across the United States, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony 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 the Spoleto Festival in Italy. Notably, he performed with the Chicago Symphony at Carnegie Hall in the fall of 2001 and with 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.

In addition to his performing career, Mark Fry served as the Artistic Director of Chamber Music on the Fox for over ten years, an organization he co-founded in 2015 with cellist Sara Sitzer. Chamber Music on the Fox is a vibrant chamber music series serving 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.

As a versatile musician, Mr. Fry frequently doubles on euphonium and bass trumpet. He has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, performing the tenor tuba part in Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, as well as performing euphonium in the annual CSO Brass concert. He also frequently performs euphonium with 3rd Coast Brass and with Trio de Chats Noirs.

Mr. Fry has been a guest clinician and has performed solo recitals across the United States. He recently recorded an album of solo and chamber works for the bass trombone, all premier recordings, entitled Flaming Angel. Mr. Fry was recently appointed to the faculty of Northern Illinois University - School of Music as Instructor of Euphonium.

He 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.