Chase Waterbury

Chase Waterbury is the second trombonist of the Monterey Symphony. He was previously a fellow with the New World Symphony from 2021-2024. Mr. Waterbury has worked with conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Tilson Thomas, Stéphane Denève, Marin Alsop, and others; and has appeared with numerous orchestras including the San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony. In 2021, Mr. Waterbury was named a finalist in the International Trombone Association’s Lewis Van Haney Philharmonic Prize. 

In addition to his extensive performance experience, Mr. Waterbury is a passionate advocate for music education. Mr. Waterbury participated in the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music program in the 2020/2021 season, helping to create programs for all grade-school students enrolled in the San Francisco Unified Public School District as a member of the Building Brass Trio. As a New World Symphony Fellow, Mr. Waterbury presented masterclasses at the University of Southern Florida, Florida State University, Nashville Symphony’s Accelerando Program, and Iberacademy’s Resonance Festival. He additionally served as a college-track mentor through the New World Symphony, providing lessons and guidance for high-school students hoping to pursue music degrees. 

Mr. Waterbury graduated from Northwestern University in 2019 where he studied with Michael Mulcahy, Christopher Davis, Randall Hawes, Timothy Higgins, and Douglas Wright. Mr. Waterbury continued his studies with Timothy Higgins at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he completed his master’s degree in 2021. While attending school in San Francisco, he also studied extensively with Paul Welcomer.