July 9, 2015—This summer the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance is honored to host the Joseph Alessi Seminar, an annual workshop and performance series for trombonists and trombone enthusiasts. 

 

Local concertgoers are invited to four public trombone events in the historic Beall Concert Hall on the UO campus, including a solo recital by the renowned Alessi himself on Wednesday, August 5. The ensuing week will feature daily master classes, orchestral sections, trombone quartets, trombone choir performances, and recitals.

 

Alessi last visited the UO in January of 2014, when he was named a Robert M. Trotter Visiting Professor, a mark of distinction reserved for honored guest artists and scholars.

 

“This national seminar involves some of the finest trombone performers and educators from all over the world, and I am extremely pleased that Joe Alessi has seen fit to continue his relationship with the University of Oregon and the university’s trombone studio,” said Henry Henniger, UO assistant professor of trombone. 

 

“Hosting this event at the UO will attract considerable attention to the university and to the School of Music and Dance,” Henniger added. “My students will help run the event, but will also audit the seminar and gain valuable insights from the participants and from Alessi himself.”

 

Alessi was appointed principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic in the spring of 1985, and has also performed as a member of the San Francisco Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, L'Orchestre symphonique de Montreal, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Alessi is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School. 

 

Alessi’s discography includes many releases on the Summit record label, including the recent Trombonastics, and a disc with New York Philharmonic Principal Trumpet Philip Smith entitled Fandango. His recording of George Crumb's “Starchild” on the Bridge record label won a Grammy Award for 1999-­2000.

 

 

7:30 p.m., Beall Concert Hall

Free admission

A centerpiece solo recital event will kick off the weeklong residency. Alessi will perform both standard literature and new transcriptions for trombone, all the while pushing the trombone to its limits.  

 

7:30 p.m., Beall Concert Hall

Free admission

Seminar participants will perform both traditional and non-traditional trombone quartet music.

 

7:30 p.m., Beall Concert Hall

Free admission

Seminar participants will perform a selection of trombone solos (both traditional and non-traditional). Participants hail from across the country and have been working with Alessi on refining their solos.

 

7:30 p.m., Beall Concert Hall

Free admission

If you like large trombone choir sound, this is the concert is for you! The seminar’s final event will feature trombone performances by the high school choir, auditors’ choir, fellows’ choir, and participant choir. At the end, all the choirs will combine to perform a few final pieces, with around 70 players in all!