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Woodwind

Mark O’Brien

Principal Bass Clarinet
Headshot of principal bass clarinettist Mark O'Brien

Born in Poole, Dorset, Mark became interested in music at a very young age and went on to study the alto saxophone aged 16, before taking up the clarinet. Mark studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Keith Pearson, Richard Addison, Michael Whight and Acker Bilk. He left in his third year of RAM to join Simon Rattle’s CBSO as Principal Bass Clarinet.

Mark is a founder member of the “Little Big Time Band”, and also performs with other groups including the BCMG, El Ultimo Tango and the Berkley Salon Ensemble.

Supported by John Bartlett

Meet more of our players

  • Photograph of Joanna Patton holding her clarinet in Birmingham's Gas Street Basin

    Joanna Patton

    Principal Second Clarinet
  • Headshot of clarinetist Oliver Janes.

    Oliver Janes

    Section Leader Clarinet
  • Headshot of Principal Cor Anglais Rachael Pankhurst

    Rachael Pankhurst

    Principal Cor Anglais
  • Headshot of Oboist Emmet Byrne

    Emmet Byrne

    Principal Second Oboe

Further content for Mark O’Brien

Keep exploring... Meet the whole Orchestra

Photograph of Kazuki Yamada conducting the orchestra at Symphony Hall

Contact Details

(0121) 616 6500 information@cbso.co.uk

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Supported using public funding by Arts Council EnglandSCC

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