He is a trumpet player who started to perform the trumpet from the time he was 10 years old. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Asbury College and studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for his Master of Music degree.
He first performed as a professional musician, while still a student, as third trumpet of the Lexington Philharmonic. He remained with the orchestra while attending graduate school and at the same time became a member of the Dayton Philharmonic.
He went on to join the Memphis Symphony Orchestra where his first season with them was in the position of Acting Principal Trumpet. He soon became Principal Trumpet with the Florida Orchestra, remaining there for six years, before being appointed Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1994 by Daniel Barenboim. He performed as Acting Principal Trumpet from 2003 until 2006 and then was given the position again from 2016.
As a soloist he has given performances with several orchestras and brass bands that include the Chicago Symphony Brass Quintet, Roosevelt University Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, High Bridge Brass, the Highland Park Strings, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
Recordings he has performed on include Live by Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass, Arnold Schonberg: Verklarte Nacht Op. 4/Piano Pieces Op.11 & 19/Five Orchestral Pieces Op. 16, Brahms: Violin Concerto/Sonata No. 3 and the soundtrack to the film Lincoln by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije Suite; Symphony No, 5 by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, C.W. McCall – Christmas Spirit and Christmasville by Mannheim Streamroller and Soul of a Nation: Portraits of Presidential Character by Victoria Bond and Myles Lee, MD.
In the field of musical education he has taught and given master classes nationally and internationally and is a faculty member of New Music School, Wheaton College and Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Sources:
- https://cso.org/about/performers/cso-musicians/brass/trumpet/mark-ridenour/
- https://www.highbridgebrass.com/mark-ridenour-bio
- https://csosoundsandstories.org/my-favorite-cso-mark-ridenour/
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-ridenour-mn0002228261
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/1614073-Mark-Ridenour
- https://www.wheaton.edu/academics/faculty/mark-ridenour/
- https://www.newmusicschool.com/advisory-board/mark-ridenour/