Background
BM, University of Southern California
Eugene (Gene) Pokorny is principal tuba of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has previously served as the tubist in the Israel Philharmonic, the Utah Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition to playing for Hollywood film scores such as Jurassic Park and The Fugitive, he has performed worldwide in opera orchestras, chamber music ensembles and orchestra festivals.
Pokorny regularly participates in brass seminars, playing recitals and holding master classes. He annually returns to Southern California to teach, play, and lecture at the Pokorny Seminar held at the University of Redlands; 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of this event. Pokorny has recorded several solo and educational CDs of his own and assisted Rolling Stones’ trombonist Michael Davis in recording numerous educational workbook CDs.
Pokorny studied tuba with Jeffrey Reynolds, Larry Johansen, Tommy Johnson and Roger Bobo. He graduated from the University of Southern California and has received an outstanding alumnus award from USC and an honorary doctorate from the University of Redlands.