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Jay Friedman to Retire After More Than Six Decades with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Jay Friedman, the legendary principal trombone of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), has announced his retirement after an extraordinary 63-year tenure. His final performance with the orchestra will take place in September 2025, marking the end of one of the longest and most influential orchestral careers in modern history.
A historic appointment
Friedman first joined the CSO in 1962 under the baton of Fritz Reiner and, just three years later, became principal trombone under Jean Martinon. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest brass player ever to hold a first-chair position in a major American orchestra. His sound would go on to define generations of orchestral brass playing.
The CSO brass legacy
Under conductors including Sir Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim, and Riccardo Muti, the CSO’s brass section became the stuff of legend—an ensemble often hailed as the greatest brass section in the world. At the centre of that power and precision was Friedman, whose commanding tone, unmatched consistency, and deep musicality helped cement the CSO’s reputation.
Friedman not only anchored the section but also inspired colleagues and students worldwide. His influence extends well beyond the orchestra’s low brass rows: countless trombonists point to his playing on recordings of Mahler, Bruckner, Wagner, and Strauss as life-changing touchstones.
Soloist and collaborator
Over his career, Friedman took the stage as a soloist on numerous occasions. Highlights include Bloch’s Symphony for Trombone and Orchestra in 1969 and Paul Creston’s Fantasy for Trombone and Orchestra in 1976, both under Solti. In 1991, he premiered Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Trombone Concerto with the CSO, a work written especially for him. More recently, in 2018, he and his section gave the world premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Low Brass Concerto at Orchestra Hall and Carnegie Hall with Riccardo Muti conducting.
Beyond the trombone
Friedman also carved out a distinguished career as a conductor. Since 1995, he has served as music director of the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest, while also appearing as a guest conductor with orchestras across North America and Europe. In 2010, he conducted Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand at Symphony Center, a fitting parallel to the monumental symphonic repertoire he helped shape from within the CSO’s brass section.
In addition, Friedman has arranged and published numerous brass transcriptions, sharing his artistry with ensembles around the globe.
A towering legacy
Born in 1939, Friedman leaves behind a legacy that is nothing short of historic. His six decades with the CSO have spanned the tenure of iconic music directors and have influenced the very identity of the orchestra itself. To many, Jay Friedman’s sound is the sound of the CSO brass.
As the Chicago Symphony prepares to bid farewell to its longest-serving brass player, one thing is certain: Friedman’s artistry will continue to resonate every time the CSO brass roar into life. His retirement closes a remarkable chapter, but the echoes of his playing will remain an indelible part of orchestral history.