Biography

Dutch native Marc van Bree is a public relations practitioner with a broad experience in the arts and non-profit environment. Marc is currently employed as public relations coordinator at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the world’s premier orchestras and a landmark Chicago cultural institution.

Marc joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from Carol Fox & Associates, where he served as assistant account executive and worked on clients including the 41st Annual Chicago International Film Festival, the Third Coast International Audio Festival, and the Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts.

Prior to his position at Carol Fox & Associates, Marc held a public relations internship position at the Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired. He gained one of his most valuable public relations and fundraising experiences when an article about the organization’s industries division was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. The “Seeing What’s Possible” campaign won a 2006 Golden Trumpet award in community relations from the Publicity Club of Chicago.

In 2005, Marc graduated cum laude from Columbia College Chicago, the nation’s largest arts and communications college, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing Communication and a concentration in Public Relations. During his course of study, he received the Columbia College Chicago 2004/05 Academic Excellence Award Scholarship in recognition of his academic achievements.

Born in the Netherlands, Marc grew up in the village of Erp in south of the Netherlands. In 2001, he graduated from the Atheneum secondary education program at Zwijsen College in Veghel, the Netherlands, with a concentration in Economics and Society.

Marc went to Vienna, Austria in early January 2002 to obtain an Advanced German certificate from the Amadeus Association. In Vienna, Marc met his wife Tania, who was studying language and music in the city. He spent five months working for the Stubaier Gletscherbahnen, near Innsbruck, Austria and another six months for the Coach & Horses in London, England before moving to Chicago, Illinois in May 2003.

Marc is fluent in Dutch, English and German; studied advanced French and Latin; and studied intermediate Spanish and Ancient Greek. He has volunteered for organizations including The Chicago Lighthouse, Tonkawa Theatre Tribe, Saint Anthony Hospital, and Emerald City Theatre. Additionally, he has a vast amount of international experience, visiting over 15 countries, including long term residencies in the Netherlands, the United States of America, England and Austria.

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