As I mentioned in late November 2011, Nitzan Haroz — Principal Trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra — was offered the same job with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. A little over two months later, he decided to take it. Late yesterday, Peter Dobrin of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Mr. Haroz has officially accepted the position. … Continue reading
In case you haven’t been paying close attention to the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s roster (and who does, really?), the orchestra’s Assistant Principal Viola chair that had been vacant since the beginning of the 2011/2012 winter season is now filled. Ben Ullery, a former Minnesota Orchestra player who joined the LA Phil viola section just last … Continue reading
Just a few months ago, the Los Angeles Philharmonic made a fairly big splash in the brass world by offering the soon-to-be-vacant (in 2012) Principal Trumpet chair to Thomas Hooten, currently principal of the Atlanta Symphony. Now it seems they’re doing it again, this time to fill the position of Principal Trombone. Multiple sources have … Continue reading
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is getting ready to kick-off their 2011/2012 winter season with an all-Gershwin gala this evening. Gustavo Dudamel will be conducting Cuban Overture, An American in Paris, and Rhapsody in Blue with the 71-year-young Herbie Hancock serving as the distinguished soloist. (If you can’t make it to Walt Disney Concert Hall tonight, … Continue reading
In what has become a nearly annual event, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has named a new Principal Flute: this time around, the winner is Benjamin Smolen, the current Principal Flute of the Battle Creek Symphony. Mr. Smolen has played as a guest with the Pacific Symphony before. Now that he’s got the full-time gig, let’s hope … Continue reading
David Bilger, Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra since 1995, has accepted a teaching position in Athens, GA. In a letter sent to Peter Dobrin of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr. Bilger confirms that: He will immediately become the “Visiting Professor of Music and William F. and Pamela P. Prokasy Professor in the Arts at the … Continue reading
Long before the closure of Interstate 405 allegedly threatened to end the world as we know it, I had planned to spend this past weekend with family and friends in Las Vegas. High temperatures were a surprisingly mellow 98-degrees in the shade, so days were spent outside at the Mandalay Bay lazy river with cold … Continue reading
Ahhh, it is July, and a classic Southern California Summer is brewing: the sun is shining with no clouds in sight, there is a slight breeze in the air to keep you cool, and the water temp is in the high 60’s and climbing. Once the waves grow higher than their current ankle-slapper status, conditions … Continue reading
Peter Stumpf is not the only Los Angeles Philharmonic principal taking next year off: Donald Green, the orchestra’s Principal Trumpet, will begin a sabbatical at the end of this summer’s Hollywood Bowl season before returning to the orchestra next summer, and then retiring. In anticipation of Mr. Green’s retirement, the orchestra will be holding auditions … Continue reading
News came today of Peter Stumpf, currently Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a member of the Johannes String Quartet, accepting a full-time position at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music after having served as adjunct faculty for the past two years, flying back and forth between Los Angeles and Bloomington to … Continue reading
All is Yar 