Michael Benjamin Nigrin
Encyclopedia
Michael Benjamin Nigrin is a musician and music composer at large who has scored the music for numerous independent and experimental films and is a double bassist with the grammy award
winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
, a not-for-profit, symphonic orchestra based in Buffalo, New York
.
, after which in preparation for college took up the double bass
with teacher David Izenzon
, and Jules Hirsh. After a two year preparation at Brooklyn College
's Music Program, he transferred to Carnegie Mellon University
under scholarship to study with bass teacher Anthony Bianco where he completed his B.F.A.
. Subsequently, he auditioned for and received scholarship to study with Homer Mensch
and Eugene Levinson
at the Juilliard School
in Manhattan, New York
for an M.F.A..
After graduating school he accepted a position as Principal Bassist with the then New Orleans Symphony
with conductor Maxim Shostakovich
. As financial hardships plagued the symphony in New Orleans, LA, Mr. Nigrin accepted a position as Principal Bassist in Florida with the Florida West Coast Symphony where he performed for two seasons. Subsequently he returned to New York State to perform with the Buffalo Philharmonic where he is currently employed. In addition to the Buffalo Philharmonic, as of 2006 he accepted part time employment during the winter months with the Sarasota Orchestra
.
In addition to music performance, while at Carnegie Mellon University
, he double majored in music composition with Marlyn Taft Thomas and Spanish
composer Leonardo Balada
, where he composed his works for movies, and small ensembles. In 1993 he scored a political documentary commissioned by Diann Rust-Tierney entitled Double Justice: Race and Capital Punishment which was to be played before the United States Congress
.
For Ensembles:
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra located in Buffalo, New York. Its primary performing venue is Kleinhans Music Hall, which is a National Historic Landmark. Its regular concert season features gala concerts, classics programming of core repertoire, Pops...
, a not-for-profit, symphonic orchestra based in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Biography
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and up until age seventeen he was completely self taught in the jazz/rock fusion style playing the electric bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, after which in preparation for college took up the double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
with teacher David Izenzon
David Izenzon
David Izenzon was an American jazz double bassist.Izenzon began playing double bass at age twenty-four. He played locally in his hometown of Pittsburgh before moving to New York City in 1961...
, and Jules Hirsh. After a two year preparation at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
's Music Program, he transferred to Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
under scholarship to study with bass teacher Anthony Bianco where he completed his B.F.A.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
. Subsequently, he auditioned for and received scholarship to study with Homer Mensch
Homer Mensch
Homer Mensch was a prominent classical bassist who was a former member of the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the New York Pops, and the NBC Symphony...
and Eugene Levinson
Eugene Levinson
Eugene Levinson is currently the principal double bassist of the New York Philharmonic and teaches at the Juilliard School. According to Book 1 of the New Method for Double Bass , Levinson, who was born in Kiev, began to study music at the age of nine. He graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory,...
at 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 Manhattan, New York
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
for an M.F.A..
After graduating school he accepted a position as Principal Bassist with the then New Orleans Symphony
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is an American orchestra based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the Gulf South. The music director is Carlos Miguel Prieto....
with conductor Maxim Shostakovich
Maxim Shostakovich
Maxim Dmitrievich Shostakovich is a Russian conductor and pianist. He was the second child of Dmitri Shostakovich and Nina Varzar.Since 1975, he has conducted and popularised many of his father's lesser-known works....
. As financial hardships plagued the symphony in New Orleans, LA, Mr. Nigrin accepted a position as Principal Bassist in Florida with the Florida West Coast Symphony where he performed for two seasons. Subsequently he returned to New York State to perform with the Buffalo Philharmonic where he is currently employed. In addition to the Buffalo Philharmonic, as of 2006 he accepted part time employment during the winter months with the Sarasota Orchestra
Sarasota Orchestra
Sarasota Orchestra, formally known as the Florida West Coast Symphony, is an American symphony orchestra located in Sarasota, Florida, which performs symphonic and chamber works for the Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties...
.
In addition to music performance, while at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, he double majored in music composition with Marlyn Taft Thomas and Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
composer Leonardo Balada
Leonardo Balada
Leonardo Balada , is a Catalan American composer, now teaching and composing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Life:...
, where he composed his works for movies, and small ensembles. In 1993 he scored a political documentary commissioned by Diann Rust-Tierney entitled Double Justice: Race and Capital Punishment which was to be played before the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Musical Works
For Films:- Gradiva (1984)
- Aurelia or Echo In Her Eyes: Part 3 (1985)
- Terrain Vague (1987)
- Shifting Margins 2 (1991)
- Emma Woolfolk (1992)
- Echolalia (1990–94)
- Art, Empire, Industry (1990–96)
- Double Justice: Race and Capital Punishment (1993)
For Ensembles:
- Composition for Brass Quintet and Percussion
- Woodwind Quintet
- Piano Solo
- 'The Beloved Eclipse' for 3 basses, percussion and tape.
Other Engagements
- Virginia SymphonyVirginia Symphony OrchestraThe Virginia Symphony Orchestra is an American regional orchestra in the Hampton Roads metro area. The orchestra performs at several venues in Virginia, including Chrysler Hall in Norfolk and the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News....
- Chautuaqua Symphony Orchestra
- Saint Louis SymphonySaint Louis Symphony OrchestraThe Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the SLSO is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States as it is preceded by the New York Philharmonic.-History:The St...
- Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo