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Principal Trombonist Tom Stark gives us the scoop on his involvement with the ESO and his musical career...

When did you join the Elmhurst Symphony?

This is my 20th season with Elmhurst Symphony

What instrument do you play and how did you get started playing it?

I play Principal Trombone with the orchestra.  My older brother plays trombone also. 

What piece is on your "Bucket List" and why?

Mahler’s 3rd symphony.  Huge trombone solo.  

Biography

Thomas Stark, Principal Trombonist with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, New Philharmonic, Camerata di Chicago, Elmhurst Symphony, and trombonist with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, received the Bachelor of Music degree from Northern Illinois University, and continued his studies at DePaul University in Chicago, and Northeastern Illinois University. 

Mr. Stark is a member of the Chicago Trombone Quartet, Chicago Trombone Consort, Lincoln Park Brass, the Windy City Brass and has performed with prominent US orchestras such as Lyric Opera of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago Opera Theater, Kansas City Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Joffrey Ballet, Elgin Symphony, Lake Forest Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony (Denver), and the symphonies of Madison (WI), Rockford, and Peoria.  He has been the featured soloist with the Elmhurst University bands, the Concordia University Chicago bands, the Festival Orchestra at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center, and performed as soloist with the Fox Valley Symphony in Appleton, WI in May 2019. 

Mr. Stark has also toured the US as bass trombonist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and trombonist with the Alliance Brass Quintet. He can be heard on recordings with The Alliance Brass Quintet, The Chicago Trombone Consort, The Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, The John Burnett Swing Orchestra, and The Bill O’Connell Skyliners Big Band.  He also performed as lead trombonist at the 1996 Montreaux Jazz Festival under the direction of Quincy Jones for the “Quincy Jones - 50 Years in Music” Celebration.

Mr. Stark has also performed with artists such as Laufey, The Violent Femmes, Andrea Bocelli, Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, country music singer Vince Gill, Marie Osmond, Josh Groban, Lorna Luft, Carl Topilow, Quincy Jones, ABBA, Tito Puente, “Blue” Lou Marini, Carl Fontana, Louis Bellson, Clark Terry, Chris Brubeck, Joe Williams, Jack Jones, Diane Shuur, Diane Reeves, Maureen McGovern, and many more. 

In addition to being in demand as a clinician, recitalist, chamber musician, and freelancer in the Chicagoland area, Mr. Stark is the Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Elmhurst University, Concordia University Chicago, Harper College, Birch Creek Music Performance Center, and was previously Guest Lecturer at Wheaton College, Illinois State University, and St. Xavier University.