Christopher Bassett currently serves as Acting Bass Trombone with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra since September 2022. Before moving to St. Louis, he was a member of the Jacksonville Symphony from 2017 until 2022. 

This season, Chris is excited to make his debut as an orchestral soloist with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia in February 2024 performing the Sachse Concertino for Bass Trombone. He will also be performing multiple recitals at the Columbus State University in fulfillment of his Master of Music degree, touring with the CSU Trombone Choir to Seoul, Korea, and will finish the season off by recording his debut solo album.

Fascinated by the trombone from an early age, Christopher Bassett began playing the trombone at the age of 10 in Oceanside, California studying with Sean Reusch. He then moved to Massachusetts where he attended the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and went on to study at the New England Conservatory completing a Bachelor of Music degree with James Markey.

While pursuing his studies at NEC, he won first prize in the Steven Zellmer, Pershing’s Own American Trombone Workshop Solo Division, and the International Trombone Association’s Edward Kleinhammer Orchestral Bass Trombone Competitions. He was also a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2016.

Since 2018, Chris has spent his summers in New Mexico as a member of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. While there, he has performed multiple times with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.

Passionate about teaching, Chris has given masterclasses across the United States and in Mexico. In 2018, he co-founded the Santa Fe Trombone Summit - a week-long trombone seminar attracting conservatory-level students from around the USA and the world - along with colleagues Mark Fisher, Jonathan Randazzo, and Dr. Chris Buckholz. Private students of his have gone on to win leadership positions in Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra program, All State Ensembles, and earn scholarships to study at top university music programs.

Additionally, Chris has performed with the Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Richmond Symphonies, the Boston Pops, and The Cleveland Orchestra. He is a performing artist for Edwards Instrument Co., Griego Mouthpieces, and Peck Custom Designs. 

He currently lives in St. Louis with his wife, Siyu, who is a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s violin section.