Spotlight | Principal Cello, Robert A. Kipp Chair

Mark Gibbs

Praised by the Kansas City Star for his “sweet, sensuous tone and sophisticated feel for long-breathed lines,” Principal Cellist Mark Tsuyoshi Gibbs holds the Robert A. Kipp chair in the Kansas City Symphony. Prior to this appointment, Gibbs earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University, where he was a student of Hans Jørgen Jensen. While at Northwestern, Gibbs was named principal cellist of the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Gibbs’ numerous awards include the Northwestern University Civic Scholar Fellowship, the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation Prize, winner of the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music Concerto Competition, first prize in the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Artist National Competition, and grand prize in the American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition. He has appeared many times as a soloist with the Kansas City Symphony, including twice on Classical Series opening weekend as well as on the Symphony’s 2015 all Saint-Saëns disc from Reference Recordings, which earned a Gramophone editor’s choice and a GRAMMY nomination. Of his 2023 performance(s) of Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote, celebrating Michael Stern’s final season with the KCS, the KC Independent declared that “Principal Cellist Mark Gibbs gave one of the richest, most heart-rending performances of this musical chronicle that I’ve ever heard.”

Gibbs plays on a beautiful modern cello, crafted by Eric Benning in 2008, and a gold-mounted Pierre Guillaume bow. He is proud to be known as a “fine Kansan cellist” (Audiophilia.com) and resides in Overland Park with his wife, Kansas City Symphony Principal Second Violinist Tamamo Someya Gibbs, and their two daughters.