TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Joseph Alessi, principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic, will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, as part of The University of Alabama School of Music Celebrity Series.
The concert will be in the Moody Music Building Concert Hall.
Alessi will perform with pianist Martha Locker. The program includes the “Morceau Symphonique” by Alexandre Guilmant, “Notes of Love” by Nicola Ferro and the Sonatina by Kazimierz Serocki.
Alessi was appointed principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic in 1985.
He began musical studies in his native California with his father. As a high school student in San Rafael, Calif., he was a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony before continuing his musical training at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music.
Before joining the orchestra, Alessi was second trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra for four seasons and principal trombone of L’Orchestre symphonique de Montreal for one season.
In addition, he has performed as guest principal trombonist with the London Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall led by Pierre Boulez.
Alessi is an active soloist, recitalist and chamber music performer. In April 1990, he made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic, performing Paul Creston’s Fantasy for Trombone, and in 1992 he premiered Christopher Rouse’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Trombone Concerto with the Philharmonic, which commissioned the work for its 150th anniversary celebration.
His most recent appearance with the Philharmonic as soloist was in world premiere performances of Melinda Wagner’s Trombone Concerto in February 2007.
Alessi is on the faculty of the Juilliard School; his students occupy posts with many major symphony orchestras.
As a clinician for the Edwards Instrument Co., he has also given master classes throughout the world and has toured Europe extensively as a master teacher and recitalist. He has performed as soloist with several leading concert bands, including the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, U.S. Army Band and the U.S. Marine Band.
Single ticket prices are $22, $15 and $7 for students. All concerts take place in the Concert Hall of the Moody Music Building on the UA campus. For ticket information, or an immediate credit card purchase, phone the School of Music Box Office at 205/348-7111.
UA’s School of Music is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.
Contact
Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782