Christopher Bassett has served as the bass trombonist of the San Francisco Symphony since 2024. Prior to his appointment by Esa-Pekka Salonen, he served as bass trombonist with the St. Louis Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, and Santa Fe Opera. Additionally, he has performed with the Boston Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, and Indianapolis Symphony. He holds degrees from the New England Conservatory (BM 2016) and the Columbus State University (MM 2024) where he studied with James Markey with Dr. Bradley Palmer, respectively. 

Passionate about working with the next generation of musicians, he is a co-founder of the Southwest Trombone Conference, a week-long trombone seminar located in Albuquerque, NM. He frequently serves as a guest artist, clinician, and soloist around the world having made appearances in South Korea, Mexico, Canada, and across the United States including residencies as a visiting professor at Indiana University and the University of Florida. He made his debut as an orchestral soloist performing the Sachse Konzert with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia in February of 2024. Mr. Bassett currently serves on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Southwest Trombone Conference, and the Southeast Trombone Symposium. 

In 2017, Mr. Bassett won Grand Prize in the Zellmer Competition as well as first prize at the ITA Edwards Kleinhammer and ITA Quartet competitions. In 2016, he received the Tourjée Scholarship which is given annually to one outstanding, returning student from the New England Conservatory of Music and was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. 

Mr. Bassett performs exclusively on his signature mouthpiece designed by Ultimate Brass. He is also a performing artist for Edwards Instrument Co., and Peck Custom Designs. His musicianship can be heard on a CD entitled “Tres Amigos” by the Santa Fe Trombones as well as on his debut solo album entitled “In Dreams” to be released in 2025. You can learn more about him at cbtrombone.com.