San Jose Wind Symphony

Home > About > Guest artists

Master Class with Joseph Alessi

Joseph Alessi, principal trombone with the New York Philharmonic, will conduct a master class in trombone performance.

Date: Saturday, February 20, 2010
Time: 9:30 am to 12:00 noon
Place: The theater at Santa Clara High School
Address: 3000 Benton St., Santa Clara, CA 95051

Participant fee: $50
Audience tickets: $15 general admission, $10 seniors/students

Mr. Alessi will work with a small group of trombone students selected from area high schools, colleges and adult ensembles. Trombone students wishing to participate in the master class should contact Jan Turnage at 408-927-7597.

Music lovers of all ages are invited to watch the master class from the audience. Audience members who play the trombone are invited to bring their instruments and join Mr. Alessi in performing one piece.

---

About Joseph Alessi. Joseph Alessi was appointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic in the spring of 1985. He began musical studies in his native California with his father, Joseph Alessi, Sr. As a high school student in San Rafael, California, and was a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony before continuing his musical training at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. Prior to joining the Philharmonic, Mr. 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.

Mr. Alessi is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School; his students now occupy posts with many major symphony orchestras in the U.S. and internationally. Further information about Mr. Alessi can be found on his website, www.slidearea.com.

Mr. 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.