Trombone Legend Mark Lawrence to Join San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Lawrence was Principal Trombonist at the San Francisco Symphony for 34 years and will join SFCM's Brass faculty with a studio of students in 2026.
Mark Lawrence.
Hailed as one the greatest classical trombonists of his generation, Mark Lawrence has had a long and successful career as an orchestral musician, soloist, chamber musician and teacher. He will be joining the Brass faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music the fall of 2026.
"I am thrilled to be rejoining the esteemed faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music," Lawrence said, adding that he is "very excited to get the opportunity to work with the talented trombonists again in the terrific low brass studio."
Lawrence's career includes Principal Trombonist for the San Francisco Symphony for 33 years (1974–2007). Nearly two dozen faculty at SFCM are also members of the SF Symphony, many of them principals. Lawrence previously taught at SFCM from 1979-2013.
Mark Lawrence
"Throughout my career as a performer, teaching was always enjoyable and a priority for me," Lawrence continued. "To watch a student mature and find their path to success has always been a highlight for me and extremely rewarding."
Lawrence has performed at the International Brass Conference, the International Trombone Conference, and has been a frequent recitalist in this country and abroad. He is also a founding member of Summit Brass, an ensemble of outstanding brass players from across the country, as well as a former member of The Empire Brass, and released a 1991 album with the trombone quartet "Four of a Kind." In addition, Lawrence is a frequent performer with Chicago's Music of the Baroque and has performed with multiple lauded orchestras as a soloist, including the Chicago Symphony.
Lawrence has long been dedicated to music education. In addition to previously serving on the faculty of SFCM, he has been on faculty of Boston University, the Tanglewood Institute, Northwestern University, The Colburn School, and the Music Academy of the West, and has given masterclasses worldwide. Many of his former students have successful orchestral careers in the U.S. and in Europe.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Mark Lawrence rejoining the SFCM faculty!" Brass Department Chair Adam Luftman said. Luftman is also Principal Trumpet of both the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet Orchestras. "His extensive list of successful, working students truly speaks for itself. We are excited for our current students to have the opportunity to work with Mark in addition to our other world class low-brass faculty."
"We are so excited to welcome Mark back to the SFCM faculty," Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jonas Wright said. "If you look across the spectrum of trombone players today, the vast majority of them either studied with Mark, or with someone who studied with him. His dedication to his students is legendary and we are so fortunate to see his return."
SFCM's Brass Department challenges and inspires the next generation of great players with small studios featuring individualized instruction. The department includes principal brass chairs of the San Francisco Symphony, as well as principal players of the San Francisco Opera and Ballet orchestras and a close-knit student body.
Born in Ames, Iowa, and raised in the Detroit area, Lawrence received his early musical training on the piano and cello. While living in Detroit, he became, at age sixteen, the youngest musician ever to play in the renowned Detroit Concert Band, under the direction of cornet virtuoso Leonard B. Smith. Mr. Lawrence attended the University of Michigan and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree.