The New York Philharmonic

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Biography
Joseph Alessi

Joseph Alessi was appointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, The Gurnee F. and Marjorie L. Hart Chair, 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 the Curtis Institute of Music. Before joining the Philharmonic, Alessi was second trombone of The Philadelphia Orchestra for four seasons, and principal trombone of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for one season. 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 musician. In April 1990 he made his New York Philharmonic solo debut, performing Creston’s Fantasy for Trombone, and in 1992 premiered Christopher Rouse’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Trombone Concerto with the Philharmonic, which commissioned the work for its 150th anniversary celebration. He performed the World Premiere of Melinda Wagner’s Trombone Concerto, conducted by Lorin Maazel in February 2007. In July 2013 he appeared with the Philharmonic as soloist in Bramwell Tovey’s The Lincoln Tunnel Cabaret for Trombone and Orchestra, written for Alessi, at Summertime Classics and at Bravo! Vail, both performances conducted by the composer. In June 2016 he gave the World Premiere of William Bolcom’s Trombone Concerto, a Philharmonic co-commission, conducted by then Music Director Alan Gilbert as part of the NY PHIL BIENNIAL; Alessi and the Philharmonic, led by Alan Gilbert, reprised the concerto in the 2016–17 season.

Alessi has been a guest soloist with the Lincoln, Colorado, Syracuse, Virginia, Alabama, Santa Barbara, Puerto Rico, Hartford, and South Dakota symphony orchestras; New Japan, Seoul, Hague, and Helsinki philharmonic orchestras; National Repertory Orchestra; Orchestra of Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Sicily; Mannheim National Theater Orchestra; and National Symphony of Taiwan. Alessi has also participated in numerous festivals, including the Festivale Musica di Camera in Protogruaro, Italy; Cabrillo Music Festival; Swiss Brass Week; and Lieksa Brass Week in Finland. He was featured in the 1997 International Trombone Festival in Feldkirch, Austria, and the International Meeting of Brass Instruments in Lille, France. He is a founding member of the Summit Brass ensemble at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in Tempe, Arizona. In 2002 Alessi was awarded an International Trombone Association Award for his contributions to the world of trombone music and trombone playing.

Joseph 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. 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 (“Pershing’s Own”), and the U.S. Marine Band (“The President’s Own”).

Alessi’s discography includes many releases on the Summit record label, including Trombonastics and Fandango, with retired Philharmonic Principal Trumpet Philip Smith. He also recorded New York Legends on the Cala label, Return to Sorrento on the Naxos record label, and conductor/composer Bramwell Tovey’s Urban Cabaret. His live recording with the Philharmonic of Christopher Rouse’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Trombone Concerto, commissioned for the Orchestra’s 150th anniversary project, can be heard on Volume II of An American Celebration, on New York Philharmonic Special Editions, the Orchestra’s own recording label.

Alessi 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. His recording of George Crumb’s Starchild on the Bridge record label, featuring Alessi as soloist, won a Grammy Award for 1999–2000. Other recordings featuring Alessi are with the Canadian Brass (Sony Classical and Philips Records). Further information about Alessi can be found on his website, www.slidearea.com.

“My earliest musical memory is my mother singing to me when I was about three — she was a soprano at The Met. My father played trumpet at The Met, as did my grandfather, who came to the U.S. from Sicily and became the cornet soloist at the Rialto Theater.”

Q&A with Joseph Alessi

THE FACTS: Born in Detroit, Michigan. Attended the Curtis Institute of Music. Prior to the Philharmonic: second trombone, The Philadelphia Orchestra; principal trombone, Montreal Symphony Orchestra. At the Philharmonic: Joined in 1985. Solo debut with the Orchestra: Creston’s Fantasy for Trombone in 1990; most recently, the World Premiere–Philharmonic Commission and reprise of William Bolcom’s Trombone Concerto in 2016.Most recent recording: 2015 reissue of Slide Area (CD Baby label). Teaches at The Juilliard School.

EARLIEST MUSICAL MEMORY: My mother singing to me when I was about three — she was a soprano at The Met. My father played trumpet at The Met, as did my grandfather, who came to the U.S. from Sicily and became the cornet soloist at the Rialto Theater. I started on the cornet at five. When I was eight my father brought home a trombone — he thought it fit my “chops” better. I didn’t like it right away. It wasn’t until I heard professional recordings, like the great jazz trombonist J.J. Johnson, that I began to love it. Years later, I recorded with J.J. Johnson on his last CD.

WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS PASS ON TO YOU MUSICALLY? I learned from both of them how to be a brass player. My mother put such feeling into the music, and I got that from her. My father taught me the basics.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS WITH THE ORCHESTRA: Playing Mahler’s Second, Third, and Seventh Symphonies with Leonard Bernstein. He gave it his all every time, and his passion and energy rubbed off on all of us. It was almost a religious experience.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON? Wagner’s Die Walküre Act I in concert with Music Director Designate Jaap van Zweden. I will be playing the bass trumpet in these concerts. Really looking forward to working with our next maestro! 

THIS SUMMER WILL MARK THE 20TH ALESSI SEMINAR, THE AWARD-WINNING TROMBONE WEEK YOU FOUNDED: I’m most proud of the people who have attended, both students and established professionals. A lot have gone on to big positions, both in orchestras around the world and at universities. This used to be one of the only trombone events in the summer; now there are a lot, many of them run by my former students.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK? I teach at Juilliard and have some of the best students in the world. I am an avid, mediocre golfer but I love the game, and I enjoy water- and downhill skiing.

As of September 2017

Upcoming 2022-2023 Performances
×

Location: (Directions)
Price Range:
Duration:
Thu
25
May
2023
Donor Rehearsal: Joseph Alessi Plays Chick Corea
Program To Include
  • Barber, Symphony in One Movement
  • Chick Corea, Trombone Concerto (US Premiere–New York Philharmonic Co-Commission with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and the Orquestra sinfônica do estado de São Paulo)
  • Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet Suite
Artists
  • Marin Alsop, Conductor
  • Joseph Alessi, Trombone
Thu
25
May
2023
Joseph Alessi Plays Chick Corea
Program To Include
  • Barber, Symphony in One Movement
  • Chick Corea, Trombone Concerto (US Premiere–New York Philharmonic Co-Commission with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and the Orquestra sinfônica do estado de São Paulo)
  • Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet Suite
Artists
  • Marin Alsop, Conductor
  • Joseph Alessi, Trombone
Fri
26
May
2023
Joseph Alessi Plays Chick Corea
Program To Include
  • Barber, Symphony in One Movement
  • Chick Corea, Trombone Concerto (US Premiere–New York Philharmonic Co-Commission with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and the Orquestra sinfônica do estado de São Paulo)
  • Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet Suite
Artists
  • Marin Alsop, Conductor
  • Joseph Alessi, Trombone
Sat
27
May
2023
Joseph Alessi Plays Chick Corea
Program To Include
  • Barber, Symphony in One Movement
  • Chick Corea, Trombone Concerto (US Premiere–New York Philharmonic Co-Commission with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and the Orquestra sinfônica do estado de São Paulo)
  • Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet Suite
Artists
  • Marin Alsop, Conductor
  • Joseph Alessi, Trombone
Wed
19
Jul
2023
Bravo! Vail: Joseph Alessi Plays Chick Corea
Program To Include
  • Chick Corea, Trombone Concerto (US Premiere–New York Philharmonic Co-Commission with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and the Orquestra sinfônica do estado de São Paulo)
  • Dvořák, Symphony No. 9, From the New World
Artists
  • Giancarlo Guerrero, Conductor
  • Joseph Alessi, Trombone
×

Purchase 3 or more eligible concerts & save.

About Create Your Own Series:

Pick three (or more) concerts and and enjoy exclusive Subscriber Benefits including unlimited free ticket exchange. Ideal for concertgoers who want the ultimate in flexibility and the benefits of being a subscriber.

Subscriber Benefits:

  • Free, easy ticket exchange (available online or by phone)
  • Save on subscription concerts all year long
  • Priority notice on special events

How it Works:

  1. Look for the Create Your Own Series icon CYO eligible icon next to a concert and add it to your cart.
  2. Simply follow the directions in the shopping cart and enter promo code CREATE3 at check out.
Upcoming 2023-2024 Performances
×

Location: (Directions)
Price Range:
Duration:
Thu
21
Mar
2024
Mendelssohn, Tan Dun, and Joel Thompson
Program To Include
  • Joel Thompson, New work (World Premiere–New York Philharmonic Commission)
  • Tan Dun, Trombone Concerto: Three Muses in Video Game (New York Premiere)
  • Fe. Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3, Scottish
Artists
  • Jaap van Zweden, Conductor
  • Joseph Alessi, Trombone
Sat
23
Mar
2024
Mendelssohn, Tan Dun, and Joel Thompson
Program To Include
  • Joel Thompson, New work (World Premiere–New York Philharmonic Commission)
  • Tan Dun, Trombone Concerto: Three Muses in Video Game (New York Premiere)
  • Fe. Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3, Scottish
Artists
  • Jaap van Zweden, Conductor
  • Joseph Alessi, Trombone
Sun
24
Mar
2024
Mendelssohn, Tan Dun, and Joel Thompson
Program To Include
  • Joel Thompson, New work (World Premiere–New York Philharmonic Commission)
  • Tan Dun, Trombone Concerto: Three Muses in Video Game (New York Premiere)
  • Fe. Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3, Scottish
Artists
  • Jaap van Zweden, Conductor
  • Joseph Alessi, Trombone
×

Purchase 3 or more eligible concerts & save.

About Create Your Own Series:

Pick three (or more) concerts and and enjoy exclusive Subscriber Benefits including unlimited free ticket exchange. Ideal for concertgoers who want the ultimate in flexibility and the benefits of being a subscriber.

Subscriber Benefits:

  • Free, easy ticket exchange (available online or by phone)
  • Save on subscription concerts all year long
  • Priority notice on special events

How it Works:

  1. Look for the Create Your Own Series icon CYO eligible icon next to a concert and add it to your cart.
  2. Simply follow the directions in the shopping cart and enter promo code CREATE3 at check out.