Meet the Musicians: Christopher Bassett, bass trombone
How did you start playing your instrument?
I started playing trombone in grade 3 and moved to the bass trombone in grade 7, which is very early to switch. I was interested in trying something new—prior to that, my five years of playing baseball were a definite sign I wouldn’t make it to the MLB.
What do you love most about your instrument?
The trombone’s resemblance to the human voice. The instrument has a significant amount of beauty and lyricism to it, which I love to lean into.
Away from St. Louis, where has been your favorite place to perform?
In my junior year of high school I went on tour with my youth orchestra from Boston to central Europe. It was my first time leaving the country. We played in some of the best concert halls throughout the Czech Republic and Austria, but my favorite remains a castle courtyard upon a hill in a picturesque countryside town called Litomyšl, the hometown of composer Bedřich Smetana.
Where’s the most unusual place you’ve played your instrument?
Brass players are always looking for backstage areas to warm up in so we don’t disturb our colleagues. I think I can speak for many of my colleagues in the brass section in saying we miss the old Powell Hall boiler room!
What do you love about the SLSO?
The thing I love most about the SLSO is that my wife, Siyu Zhang, is also a member of the orchestra. We met in 2019 at our first jobs with the Jacksonville Symphony in Florida. It took us three years, two of which we spent living apart having different jobs, to both have full-time jobs here with the SLSO. I couldn’t be more thankful.
Learn more about Chris here.
Compiled by Iain Shaw.
