International
Chamber Artists

Chicago-area freelance musician and brass instructor, Chelsea French, received her Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Northwestern University in June of 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University, and has studied primarily with Michael Mulcahy, Mark Fisher, Charles Vernon, Randall Hawes and Vance Shoemaker.

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Chelsea has played with Chicago's Music of the Baroque, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the South Dakota Symphony, the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, and many regional orchestras in the Chicago area. 

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Chelsea has received local, national and international recognition by winning the Chicago-area Musicians' Club of Women solo competition, the International Trombone Association's Marstellar Solo Competition, and the National Trombone Solo Competition held at the Eastern Trombone Workshop. Chelsea is on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago.

 

Born and raised in rural South Dakota, Chelsea began her musical studies on piano at the age of five. Her fascination with trombone began at age ten upon entering the public school band program in her hometown of Madison. She also studied voice throughout high school, but found her niche in music as a classical trombonist before entering college. Besides performing and teaching, Chelsea also enjoys many outdoor activities such as horseback riding and barefoot/minimalist long-distance running. She is also active as a certified yoga teacher.

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"As a musician, I have found nothing more fulfilling than the thoughtful preparation and the heartfelt performance of great chamber music in collaboration with a few of my best friends."

Chelsea French, trombone