Faculty

Mark Soueidi is thrilled to join the wonderful faculty at the Red Lodge Music Festival, where he has worn a few hats every summer since 2012, including fixing hundreds of bike flats and assisting Loren Marstellar during his incredible tenure at the festival. Mark is currently completing his doctoral studies in music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and performs with both the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the Billings Symphony Orchestra.

Originally from Montana, Mark studied with Lance Boyd at the University of Montana, earning his Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance and performing with a handful of Montana orchestras, including a four-year appointment with the Missoula Symphony Orchestra during his undergraduate studies. Mark continued his trombone studies with Frank Crisafulli and Michael Mulcahy at Northwestern University, performing under the direction of renown conductor, John Paynter. Following grad school, Mark remained in the Chicago area, pursuing a freelance career and building a thriving studio in the area for over ten years. He performed regularly with Chicagoland orchestras, including the Chicago Sinfonietta, Civic Orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Illinois Philharmonic and chamber ensembles like the Chicago Brass Ensemble and Millar Brass, under the direction of trumpet great, Vincent Cichowicz. He also enjoyed big band work with the Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra. His most recent projects include creating and producing a premier trombone podcast called, A Slide Advantage, and commissioning a trombone solo with an Indiana University colleague that centers around the music of his Middle Eastern heritage.

His teaching appointments include a year-long residency as Visiting Trombone Instructor at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho and three years as Trombone/Low Brass Professor and Director of Instrumental Studies at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT. Mark also built a thriving studio at the University of Wyoming as Trombone Professor for four years prior to his return to graduate school. He has enjoyed “preaching trombone” to students not only in his home state of Montana, but also states like Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, and overseas in Italy, Germany, Portugal, and the Middle East!

When Mark is not spending time with his family or traveling, he can be found on his bike or perhaps “teaching” bicycles in a local bike shop. He has enjoyed keeping the festival “inflated” and shifting smoothly each summer. This little passion has even included owning his own shop in Montana as well as working in leadership positions for both TrailNet and the Billings Chamber of Commerce – wonderful organizations that continue to better the community through an effective (and fun) bicycle infrastructure.