LARRY COMBS joined the clarinet section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestry in 1974 and was appointed its Principal Clarinet by Sir Georg Solti in 1978. Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Combs began clarinet study at the age of ten and by age thirteen was performing regularly with the Charleston Symphony, becoming that orchestra's first clarinetist at age sixteen. His teenage years provided a variety of performing opportunities; circus bands, county fairs, area dance bands, numerous jazz sessions, and even an appearance on the "Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour" on network television with his high school clarinet quintet. (The group was runner-up to a one-legged tap dancer!)

Summers at the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, convinced Combs to consider music as a career, and in the fall of 1957, he entered the Eastman School of Music becoming a pupil of Stanley Hasty. Eastman provided a wealth of experiences not the least of which were studies with Hasty and the opportunity to hear him perform the great orchestral works each week in the Rochester Philharmonic.

After graduation, Combs joined the New Orleans Philharmonic as Bass Clarinet and soon after received a draft notice for military service. Three years of military duty were spent with the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, which was situated near enough to New York to allow for bi-weekly study with Leon Russianoff. After leaving the Army, Combs rejoined the New Orleans Philharmonic as Solo Clarinet and in 1968, became Principal of the Montreal Symphony.

In his years as a member of the Chicago Symphony, Combs has made numerous solo appearances with the orchestra in works of Mozart, Copland, Corigliano, Brahms-Berio, and Debussy and has perfromed under the direction of Solti, Barenboim, Abbado, Giulini, Boulez, Levine, Bernstein, Leinsdorf and many others. Combs is currently Porfessor of Clarinet at the DePaul University School of Music, a founding member of The Chicago Chamber Musicians, and is married to Gail Williams, Associate Principal Horn of the Chicago Symphony.

Mr. Combs performed in concert March 5, 1999 with The American Saxophone Quartet and will record with the group later this season.