Mark Soueidi

Mark Soueidi is thrilled to join the music faculty at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho beginning fall of 2023. He is currently completing his doctoral studies in music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, studying with Peter Ellefson. He most recently served as the Trombone/Low Brass Professor and Director of Instrumental Studies at Rocky Mountain College in Montana from 2020 until 2023. Prior to his return to graduate school, Mark taught trombone/low brass at the University of Wyoming from 2012 to 2016, where he also lectured music courses, founded and conducted the UW Trombone Company, and toured with the UW Faculty Brass Quintet, affectionately called, The Snowy Range Brass. He has served as guest clinician and soloist in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Illinois, Indiana and overseas in Italy, Germany, Portugal, and the Middle East.

Originally from Montana, Mark studied with Lance Boyd at the University of Montana, earning his Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance and performing with the Billings, Bozeman, and Glacier Symphony 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 in Evanston, IL, earning a Master of Music and performing under the direction of renown conductor, John Paynter. Following his grad studies, Mark remained in the Chicago area, pursuing a professional, freelance career, playing regularly with Chicagoland orchestras, including the Chicago Sinfonietta, Civic Orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Philharmonic, Rockford, Elgin, and Elmhurst Symphony Orchestras in addition to performances with 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. In addition to his work performing in Chicago, Mark also maintained a studio of low brass students for well over 10 years.

Each summer, Mark returns to Montana to teach and work at the Red Lodge Music Festival and this past year marks his tenth season serving as Principal Trombone with the Billings Symphony Orchestra in Montana. 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.

When he’s not spending time with his family or traveling, Mark can be found cycling or “teaching” bicycles in a local bike shop. His passion for bicycles and the bike industry has included leadership positions in both the non-profit group, TrailNet, and the Billings Chamber of Commerce, working to further develop an effective bicycle infrastructure in the community.