Max was a consummate musician and a master teacher of trombone, bass trombone, tuba and euphonium.

Max Howard Bonecutter, born in 1951 to Amy Olmstead Bonecutter and Paul Mac Bonecutter, grew up in the small town of Bronson, MI. His early ambition was to be a coach for the high school football team, but his mother – who taught piano from their living room for many years – nurtured his musical talent and managed to get him a scholarship to the summer music camp at Interlochen between his freshman and sophomore years of high school. His talent was also recognized at Interlochen and he was able to attend the prestigious arts school for his final three years of high school.

Max started at Northwestern University after graduating Interlochen and it was while he was still a student of Frank Crisafulli, trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 51 years, that he was invited to sub for Frank while the CSO was on tour one summer, an experience that Max still rates as one of the great experiences of his life. He went on to win the audition for bass trombone at The Metropolitan Opera and later won the audition for the Minnesota Orchestra where he played for many years.

In addition to these full-time positions Max enjoyed summer sessions at music festivals including the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Colorado Music Festival. He taught music at the University of Kansas and continued to teach students in the Chicago area up until the time of his death.

Max is survived by his spouse, Rebecca Armstrong, (also a musician and part of the Armstrong family of folk music in Chicago); an older brother, Bruce Bonecutter, of Oak Park, IL; a younger brother, Lee Bonecutter, of Augusta, FL; and a bevy of Bonecutter cousins, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and even a few great-uncles.

A musical memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at LaSalle Street Church, 1136 N. LaSalle Dr., Chicago, Illinois 60610 from 10:30 am – 12:oo pm with a light lunch to follow.