A native of Boulder, Colorado, Mark Lillie has served as Principal Bass of the Colburn and Juilliard Orchestras, Music Academy Festival Orchestra, Colorado College Summer Music Festival Orchestra, and National Repertory Orchestra.
He has made numerous appearances with the New York Philharmonic and the Colorado Music Festival, including performances at Bravo! Vail in Colorado.
Beginning his musical career at age 13, Lillie studied with David Crowe, Principal Bass of the Boulder Philharmonic, and later with Paul Erhard, professor of double bass at the University of Colorado. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Colburn Conservatory of Music, his Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, and a Professional Performance Diploma from the Manhattan School of Music. Lillie is grateful for his primary teachers Peter Lloyd, Joseph Conyers, and Timothy Cobb who shared their professional experience and exposed him to a variety of musical styles. He has played under the direction of many renowned conductors including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Stéphane Denève, Michael Tilson Thomas, Michael Stern, Sir Antonio Pappano, and Klaus Mäkelä.
Lillie has participated in many summer music festivals including the National Repertory Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, Domaine Forget Academy, New York String Orchestra Seminar, Edinburgh Festival, and Music Academy of the West, where he was a finalist for the New York Philharmonic Global Academy Fellowship. While at these festivals, he studied with Nico Abondolo, Timothy Pitts, Paul Ellison, David Allen Moore, and Scott Dixon.
Lillie performs on a modern double bass made in 2016 by Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand and uses an antique french bow made by Charles-Alfred Bazín. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the local beer and coffee scene.