Mark Almond is Principal Horn in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
He joined in 2023, having previously worked as Associate Principal Horn of the San Francisco Symphony, Principal horn of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and third horn of the Philharmonia Orchestra, London.
Almond began his musical education at age nine while playing tenor horn in local brass bands. He studied medicine at Cambridge and Oxford universities, during which time he made his professional debut at 19 with the London Symphony Orchestra.
He is an active chamber musician and has recently performed at the Music@Menlo, Cleveland ChamberFest and Santa Fe Chamber music festivals.
He currently teaches horn at the Academy and Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.