Joseph Alessi
Encyclopedia
Joseph Alessi is a world-renowned, primarily classical, trombonist; he is the current Principal Trombone
of the New York Philharmonic
Orchestra and an active soloist, teacher/clinician and recording artist. Alessi is considered the finest player in modern times.
and attended high school in San Rafael, California
. His father, Joseph Alessi, Sr., was a professional trumpet player and his mother sang in the Metropolitan Opera
chorus. Displaying notable talent himself from an early age, Alessi graduated early from high school at age 16 and successfully auditioned to join the San Francisco Ballet
Orchestra. During this time he appeared as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony
. In 1976-77, following a previous unsuccessful audition, Alessi gained entry to the Curtis Institute of Music
(in Philadelphia), where he studied until 1980.
as caretaker Second Trombone; he later won the job permanently and performed with the orchestra for four seasons. Following one season as Principal Trombone at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
, Alessi joined the New York Philharmonic
as Principal Trombone in the Spring of 1985; the same year that David Finlayson joined the orchestra as Second Trombone.
Alessi made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic
in 1990 when he performed the Fantasy for Trombone by Paul Creston. In 1992, he performed with the New York Philharmonic in the world premiere of the Trombone Concerto by Christopher Rouse, which later received the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Alessi has since developed an increasingly active solo career, performing throughout the United States and internationally. His discography consists of over 14 full-length albums, in addition to guest appearances on albums by other artists. Recordings of the Rouse Concerto have been released by the New York Philharmonic and the Colorado Symphony, both featuring Alessi as soloist. His 1999 recording of Star-Child, by George Crumb, was voted Best Classical Contemporary Composition at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001.
Alessi joined the faculty of The Juilliard School
in 1986, shortly after his joining the New York Philharmonic. The Juilliard trombone studio has since furthered its international reputation as one of the finest trombone college programs, and the Juilliard Trombone Choir has regularly performed with Alessi on his recording projects. Since 1999 Alessi has conducted the Alessi Seminar; a biennial trombone workshop that attracts trombonists from around the world to spend time with him in lessons, masterclasses, and recitals. Several of his past students now occupy senior positions in major orchestras throughout the world.
Joseph Alessi is widely regarded, along with Swedish trombone virtuoso Christian Lindberg
, to be the finest player of the instrument today; arguably the finest in history. In recognition of his immense contributions to the world of trombone music and trombone playing, Alessi was awarded the 2002 ITA Award; the most prestigious award offered by the International Trombone Association.
Alessi currently performs on a .547" B/F Tenor Trombone (T396-A) made by the Edwards Instrument Company, for whom Alessi is an Artist-Clinician. He uses a custom-designed range of mouthpieces by Christan Griego
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
Orchestra and an active soloist, teacher/clinician and recording artist. Alessi is considered the finest player in modern times.
Life
Joseph Alessi, Jr. was born in 1959 in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and attended high school in San Rafael, California
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
. His father, Joseph Alessi, Sr., was a professional trumpet player and his mother sang in the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
chorus. Displaying notable talent himself from an early age, Alessi graduated early from high school at age 16 and successfully auditioned to join the San Francisco Ballet
San Francisco Ballet
The San Francisco Ballet is a ballet company, founded in 1933 as the San Francisco Opera Ballet. The company is currently based in the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, under the direction of Helgi Tomasson. SFB is the first professional ballet company in the United States...
Orchestra. During this time he appeared as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
. In 1976-77, following a previous unsuccessful audition, Alessi gained entry to the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
(in Philadelphia), where he studied until 1980.
Career
During his third year at Curtis, Alessi joined the Philadelphia OrchestraPhiladelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
as caretaker Second Trombone; he later won the job permanently and performed with the orchestra for four seasons. Following one season as Principal Trombone at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
, Alessi joined the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
as Principal Trombone in the Spring of 1985; the same year that David Finlayson joined the orchestra as Second Trombone.
Alessi made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
in 1990 when he performed the Fantasy for Trombone by Paul Creston. In 1992, he performed with the New York Philharmonic in the world premiere of the Trombone Concerto by Christopher Rouse, which later received the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Alessi has since developed an increasingly active solo career, performing throughout the United States and internationally. His discography consists of over 14 full-length albums, in addition to guest appearances on albums by other artists. Recordings of the Rouse Concerto have been released by the New York Philharmonic and the Colorado Symphony, both featuring Alessi as soloist. His 1999 recording of Star-Child, by George Crumb, was voted Best Classical Contemporary Composition at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001.
Alessi joined the faculty of The Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in 1986, shortly after his joining the New York Philharmonic. The Juilliard trombone studio has since furthered its international reputation as one of the finest trombone college programs, and the Juilliard Trombone Choir has regularly performed with Alessi on his recording projects. Since 1999 Alessi has conducted the Alessi Seminar; a biennial trombone workshop that attracts trombonists from around the world to spend time with him in lessons, masterclasses, and recitals. Several of his past students now occupy senior positions in major orchestras throughout the world.
Joseph Alessi is widely regarded, along with Swedish trombone virtuoso Christian Lindberg
Christian Lindberg
Christian Lindberg is a Swedish trombonist, conductor and composer.As a youth, Lindberg learned to play the trumpet, and subsequently began to learn the trombone at age 17. He originally borrowed a trombone to join his friends' Dixieland jazz group, inspired by records of Jack Teagarden...
, to be the finest player of the instrument today; arguably the finest in history. In recognition of his immense contributions to the world of trombone music and trombone playing, Alessi was awarded the 2002 ITA Award; the most prestigious award offered by the International Trombone Association.
Playing style
Joseph Alessi's playing is often noted for refined musicianship, a particularly rich sound quality and complete technical control. He embodies the American style; with a clean, singing tone with occasional vibrato, and consistent sound throughout the instrument's entire register. The music he chooses to play is mainly concentrated on romantic and modern (but mainly tonal) music, while also developing his jazz playing.Alessi currently performs on a .547" B/F Tenor Trombone (T396-A) made by the Edwards Instrument Company, for whom Alessi is an Artist-Clinician. He uses a custom-designed range of mouthpieces by Christan Griego
Discography
The recordings that Joseph Alessi has made include the following:- Mahler:Symphonie No. 3 in D Minor, New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein
- Visions of Light
- Return to Sorrento, Naxos Records
- Illuminations, Joe Alessi with the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony, Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
DCD-367 - Four of a Kind 2, Take me out to the ball game, Joe Alessi, Blair Bollinger, Scott Hartman, and Mark Lawrence, Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
, DCD-345 - Trombonastics, Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
, DCD-314 - An American Celebration; Volume II including live recording of Rouse Concerto with the New York Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic Special Editions
- New York Legends, Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone, New York Philharmonic, 1998, Cala Records, Ltd
- Slide Area, Joe Alessi with Jonathan Feldman (piano) 1992, Summit Records
- Fandango Joseph Alessi, Jr with Philip Smith (trumpet) of the New York Philharmonic, performed with the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony, Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
, DCD-271 - Four of a Kind, Music for Trombone Quartet, Joe Alessi, Blair Bollinger, Scott Hartman, and Mark Lawrence, Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
, DCD-123 - Beyond the End of the Century by Joseph Alessi and Jonathan Feldman (piano), Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
, DCD-309 - Trombones Under the Tree, Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
. DCD-146 - Song of Exuberance, 2001, Metro Brass
- Collage, the New York Trombone Quartet Plays!, by Joseph Alessi, Edward Neumeister, and James E. PughJames E. PughJames Edward Pugh is a trombonist, composer, and educator. He is noted as the lead trombonist with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd and Chick Corea's Return to Forever Band . For 25 years, he worked as a freelance trombonist in New York City...
- Bone-A-Fide Brass by Joseph Alessi and Imperial Brass, Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
. DCD-480 - Visions by Joseph Alessi and the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble, Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
. DCD-486