He is a double bassist who was raised in Chicago and while in high school learned about the Chicago Symphony Orchestra through his parents. He went on to study the double bass with the bassists Harold Siegel and Joseph Guastafeste.
In 1972 became a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the following year, in 1973, he joined the Oakland (CA) Symphony Orchestra. In 1974 he returned to Chicago to become a member of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
As a chamber musician he has performed in the groups Chamberfest, Lincoln Park Chamber Players and Virtuosi Landolfi.
Recordings he has performed on include Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, Arnold Schonberg: Verklarte Nacht Op. 4/Piano Pieces Op. 11 & 19/Five Orchestral Pieces Op. 16, Wagner: Overtures and Preludes, Carter/Berio/Takemitsu: Partita-Continuo-Visions, Brahms: Violin Concerto/Sonata No. 3 and the film soundtrack of Lincoln by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
In the field of musical education he has been a teacher of many double bass students.
Sources:
- https://cso.org/about/performers/cso-musicians/strings/bass/mark-kraemer/
- https://www.stokowski.org/Chicago_Symphony_Musicians_List.htm
- https://doublebassblog.org/2007/10/chicago-symphony-bass-section-tour-photos.html
- https://www.facebook.com/chicagosymphony/photos/cso-bass-mark-kraemer-makes-his-way-to-the-stage-for-saturday-nights-performance/10152540306788049/
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/2767585-Mark-Kraemer