Joseph Alessi
Joseph
Alessi was appointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic in the
spring of 1985. Mr. Alessi began musical studies in his native California
with his father, Joseph Alessi, Sr. 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.
Mr. Alessi is an active soloist, recitalist, and chamber music performer. In April 1990, he made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic, performing Creston’s Fantasy for Trombone, and in 1992 premiered Christopher Rouse’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Trombone Concerto with the Orchestra, which commissioned the work for its 150th Anniversary Celebration. His most recent appearance with the Philharmonic as soloist was in performances of James Pugh’s Trombone Concerto in March of 2000. Recently, Mr Alessi was awarded the 2002 International Trombone Association Award given for his contributions to the world of trombone music and trombone playing.
Currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School, his students now occupy posts with many major symphony orchestras throughout the United States. 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.
Mr. Alessi’s discography includes Slide Area on the D’Note record label and New York Legends on the Cala label as well as several discs on the Summit record label, including a newly released solo disc, entitled Trombonastics. His live recording of the Rouse Concerto with the New York Philharmonic can be heard on Volume II of the recent release, An American Celebration, on New York Philharmonic Special Editions, the Orchestra’s own recording label. He was invited by the International Trombone Association to record a solo disc of newly composed works, which was distributed to the Association’s membership of 5,000 trombonists in early 1999, and is now available as Beyond the End of the Century through Summit Records. Recently, his recording of George Crumb’s Starchild on the Bridge record label, featuring Mr. Alessi as soloist, won a Grammy Award for 1999-2000. Further information about Mr. Alessi can be found on his website. (Edwards)