Mark Ortwein (2019)
Principal Bassoon
Website
What are your most important educational and musical moments?
My most memorable musical experience was playing John Williams’ alto sax concerto with him conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra .
Why did you choose music?
I don’t know why I chose music, I keep asking myself that! Music was what I was most interested in and had a lot of early success and I was too short for the NBA. I grew up in Las Vegas and the employability in music was very good at that time.
Why did you choose your instrument?
I started on piano. After fifth grade I went to music camp and played many instruments. Before going to the camp I had my mind to play trumpet, but loved the sax once I tried everything. My Freshman year in high school I was actually playing 1st Euphonium in the Concert Band and had a bassoon solo cued in part which I played on Euphonium, and my band director (who was playing at night with entertainers like Frank Sinatra and Wayne Newton – advantage of growing up in Las Vegas) said I should look into the Bassoon, which I started playing after that. My 1st 2 years in college I was a double major on Bassoon and Jazz Saxophone in New Orleans and then transferred to school in Boston. My first full-time job was playing in the Air Force Band, where I played all different instruments.
Tell us about your family.
My wife Carrie was a Nurse Practitioner and now is a DNP (Dr. of Nursing Practice). I have two children, Nicholas (Olas) and Catherine, and two stepchildren, Myles and Channing. Olas went to Indiana University for Jazz Bass and is currently living in Las Vegas working as a bassist and shooting music videos. Catherine is living in Denver going to school and working as a freelance artist. Myles goes to Wabash College and is captain of the soccer team. Channing attends Indiana University and is very active in sports and plays piano.
What are you currently doing?
I play in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; Bassoon, Contraforte, and Saxes. I play a lot of Recording sessions and live shows (Jazz, Latin, Pop) on all the Saxes, Bassoons, Clarinets and some Flute and Piccolo. I also teach at the University of Indianapolis and am a Yamaha Performing Artist. I’ve been lucky to play the National Anthem at quite a few NBA and WNBA games over the last several years as well.
Any non-musical interests or hobbies?
For fun I play ping-pong and play with my dogs. I have an English bulldog, an Olde English Bulldogge and a Chihuahua. I like to attend concerts and spend time at my lakehouse on Cordry Lake, south of Indianapolis. When I hang out with people who are non-musicians, they are usually amazed that a classical musician can be a normal person!